The downfall of Cunningham, an eight-term congressman and decorated Navy fighter pilot from the Vietnam War, began with revelations about the sale of his house in Del Mar Heights to a military contractor at an inflated price two years ago.
But in a plea agreement, Cunningham admitted a pattern of bribery going back to 2000, with contractors supplying him with Persian carpets, silver candelabras, a Rolls-Royce, antique furniture, travel and hotel expenses, use of a yacht and a lavish graduation party for his daughter.
In return, Cunningham used his high-ranking position in Congress — he served on the House Defense Appropriations Subcommittee and the House Intelligence Committee — to "influence the appropriations of funds and the execution of government contracts."
A Vietnam-era Navy pilot buddy of mine said last night that he hated to see someone with Cunningham's service record go down like this, especially at a time when the chicken hawks are running us into the ground. But, he shrugged, the guy's on the Defense Appropriations committee, and hip-deep in the worst kind of influence peddling. He's got it coming in spades. (Besides, it's not like this guy's conduct--even the non-bribery related parts--is something to make you terribly proud if you're a vet. Or if you're from San Diego.)
An itemized partial list of Cunningham's bling is here.
Quite a list of prizes to take home. And what else do we have for him, Johnny?
Well, Bill, we have this souvenir bumper sticker:
Thanks, Johnny! Who's our next contestant?
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