WASHINGTON — Former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, an ace naval aviator who resigned from Congress in shame after pleading responsible to corruption prices, died Wednesday at age 83.
The San Diego Union Tribune reported that Cunningham died at a hospital in Little Rock, Ark., following an sickness.
Cunningham, a California Republican, joined the Navy at age 25 and in the course of the Vietnam Battle turned the primary “ace,” an honor given to fight pilots who shoot down 5 enemy planes.
First elected to Congress in 1990, Cunningham served eight phrases till he resigned on Dec. 1, 2005, after he pleaded responsible to corruption prices. He held seats on the Appropriations and Intelligence committees on the time of his departure
In pleading responsible, Cunningham admitted to accepting at the very least $2.4 million in bribes. That included about $1 million in money in addition to rugs, antiques, furnishings, yacht membership charges, boat repairs, transferring prices and trip bills, in alternate for utilizing his appropriations position to acquire earmarks on behalf of protection contractors.
The proof in opposition to Cunningham included a “bribe menu” that outlined the greenback values of bribes requested in alternate for steering federal funds. His actions have been amongst those who led Congress to quickly ban earmarking.
He spent greater than seven years in jail. President Donald Trump pardoned Cunningham in 2021, on the final full day of his first time period within the White Home.
Army document
Cunningham’s public corruption overshadowed a adorned navy profession. He narrowly averted seize after his F-4 fighter was shot down over North Vietnam, and he returned house with a number of medals for valor, together with the Navy Cross.
He then educated pilots at Miramar Naval Air Station north of San Diego.
After he left the navy for enterprise, his background caught the attention of one other Vietnam veteran from California, Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter, who urged him to run for the Home.
Cunningham moved to the San Diego suburb of Chula Vista to problem Democratic Rep. Jim Bates in 1990, the place he eked out a slender victory.
After redistricting in 1992, he ran in a solidly Republican district and was reelected by comfy margins. Redistricting for 2002 didn’t harm him both. His new district continued to have a wholesome Republican majority.
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—Todd Ruger contributed to this report.
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