"Duke" Cunningham To Plead Guilty

This shouldn't surprise anyone, but it is still interesting:

Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham will plead guilty to tax violations, a person close to the investigation of the California Republican has told The Associated Press. * * *

In November 2003, he sold his Del Mar, Calif., home to defense contractor Mitchell Wade for $1,675,000. Wade put the house back on the market and sold it after nearly a year for $975,000 -- a loss of $700,000 in one of the nation's hottest housing markets.

Cunningham and his wife, Nancy, used the proceeds from the sale to buy a $2.55 million mansion in ritzy Rancho Santa Fe, Calif.

Wade also let Cunningham live rent-free on his yacht, the Duke Stir, at the Capital Yacht Club. His firm, MZM Inc., donated generously to Cunningham's campaigns.

The Republicans thought they were untouchable back in 2003 and could therefore do anything they wanted, even obviously illegal stuff like this.


Hell, the fact that they named the yacht "Duke-Stir" speaks volumes in that regard. Scooter Libby had no problem committing obvious felonies back then either.



UPDATE: It is confirmed:

Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham pleaded guilty Monday to conspiracy and tax charges involving the sale of his home two years ago to a defense contractor at an inflated price.

Admitting to a judge that he took bribes, Cunningham entered pleas in U.S. District Court to charges of conspiracy to commit mail fraud and wire fraud and tax evasion for underreporting his income in 2004.

As Kos says: "These are good times for criminal prosecutors."