Grand Jury Investigating Lawmaker's House Sale

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

A federal grand jury is investigating the relationship between Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham and a defense contractor, focusing particular attention on the sale of the congressman's Del Mar home to the company's owner, sources said.


The U.S. Attorney's Office issued subpoenas this week, some of which were delivered by FBI agents yesterday, said sources familiar with the probe and who asked not to be identified because grand jury proceedings are secret.


The seven-term Republican, who represents the 50th Congressional District, drew the attention of investigators regarding the November 2003 sale of his Del Mar home to Mitchell Wade, head of the contracting firm MZM Inc., the sources said.

Cunningham sold the home to Wade for $1,675,000 and used the proceeds of the sale to purchase a $2.55 million house in Rancho Santa Fe.


Wade put the Del Mar house back on the market almost immediately for roughly the same price, where it remained unsold and vacant for more than eight months. It eventually sold for $700,000 less than what Wade paid Cunningham.

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/northcounty/20050618-9999-2n18grand.html

Note: Sweet. Very Sweet. May this be just the start of things.

[warrens]

1. That is what is known as a bribe.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

2. Yes.

Now to get the pukes to do something about it.

[TwentyFive]

3. Corporatization of America! What is so wrong about this?

Good 'ole Duke Cunningham is just getting paid a little tax free juice (measly $700,000) for his helping a super rich guy get even richer...at tax payer expense.

The only sad fact here is these 2 businessmen have to do this in the closet. </sarcasm>

[LeftCoast]

4. Cunningham is a crook

Kos, Atrios and Josh Marshall have been on this story for a while. Apparently, the house deal is just the tip of the iceberg.

[babylonsister]

5. More good news! This guy is a snake in the grass and

up to no good. Reminds me of the nefarious actions of DeLay. Grand jury, FBI, subpoenas, oh my!

[bigluckyfeet]

8. He has been in congress

14 years and is buying a $2.5 million house.WOW!

[mom cat]

12. What took him so long? Must be slow as well as crooked!

:sarcasm:

[havocmom]

6. Any report on how much rent Cnningham pays for the boat he lives on?

Does it even cover slip fees?

[Rose Siding]

7. That was quick!

I didn't even read anything about the FBI investigation until yesterday.

[HawkerHurricane]

9. Depressing.

Randall "Duke" Cunningham was a brilliant fighter pilot. The only Navy pilot to make 'Ace' in Vietnam, he would be the first (founding) commanding officer of the Navy's Fighter Weapon School (Top Gun). His downfall and slide to the dark side can be traced back to his divorce of his first wife (she left him) and his 'conversion' to the small minded fundamentalist Paulism calling itself Christianity. The hard charging fighter pilot, who often did things he regretted was replaced by a psuedo Christian career oriented politician, who feels no guilt for his acts... after all, he's 'forgiven'.

It would have been better for Randy Cunningham to have retired as what he was: The Fighter Pilot who founded Top Gun. Instead of being investigated for bribery, he could be doing the lecture circuit selling his memoirs. He could be remembered as a Ace, instead of a corrupt politician.

I find it sad that he has to be brought down, not by enemy fire, but by his own greed and hubris.

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

11. I agree.

I have read the history of the furballs he was involved in, that led to his 'ace' status. He did some fine flying and he saved some lives. He had balls the size of asteroids on those days.

But he moved on. He made his choices. He lost his way. He turned to the dark side.

Looking at a recent picture of him, I would posit that alcohol played no small role in his descent.

Yes, this IS sad. But he is but the tip of an iceberg. A tipping point.

[HawkerHurricane]

15. I read his autobiography from 20 years ago...

In the very last chapter, he talks about how his wife left him over his problems with alchohol... and it implies he was womanizing. (What can I say? He was a fighter pilot, a warrior of the old school). Then he 'got faith', and claimed he had no further alchohol problems.
But, my experience has been people who 'get faith' don't stop having alchohol problems... they just hide it. So, instead of drinking and carousing in public, I'm afraid that 'Duke' is doing it in private, where his fellow Paulists cannot see.

[maddezmom]

10. more DU links to the "Duke Stir"

Cunningham, defense contractor have more ties(in addition to yacht & home)
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1559692

Cunningham Says He Rents CEO's Yacht
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=102&topic_id=1557594

[schultzee]

13. Ted Stevens of Alaska and Tom DeLay have done the same

[truthisfreedom]

14. links? i'd love to read about this.

[Judi Lynn]

16. Update: Rep. Cunningham Discloses Four Subpoenas

Rep. Cunningham Discloses Four Subpoenas

Monday, June 20, 2005

(06-20) 11:33 PDT WASHINGTON (AP) --

Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, under investigation by federal authorities over a real estate deal, told the House Monday that he's been served with four subpoenas in Imperial County, Calif., and plans to comply with them.

Cunningham's announcement was read on the House floor by a congressional clerk as the House convened for the week.

There were no details about the topic of the subpoenas, but a federal grand jury has reportedly convened in California to look into the November 2003 sale of Cunningham's home to Mitchell Wade, president of the defense contracting firm MZM Inc.

Cunningham, a Republican and member of the defense appropriations subcommittee, sold the Del Mar, Calif., home to Wade for $1.7 million and used the proceeds to buy a $2.55 million mansion in Rancho Santa Fe. Wade put the Del Mar house back on the market shortly after buying it and took a $700,000 loss on it a year later.
(snip/...)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/06/20/national/w113326D45.DTL