Cunningham figure says he was trying to help government

[cascadiance]

Source: San Diego Union Tribune

By Dean Calbreath and Jose Luis Jiménez
UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITERS

August 31, 2007

A key player in the corruption case of former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham told a federal court that he was acting out of patriotism and not for personal gain when he provided the congressman with money and favors, according to court transcripts unsealed yesterday.


Thomas Kontogiannis

New York financier Thomas Kontogiannis said he tried to develop a friendship with Cunningham – who was then a leading member of the House Intelligence Committee – so he could provide information to the government.

...

“It was never personal interest, your honor,” Kontogiannis said. “My interest is (the) United States, basically. And (Cunningham) was in a position that I could reach and tell (the government) information that I was gathering from all over the world.”

Kontogiannis didn't offer more details. However, the judge alluded to an ongoing investigation by the federal Joint Terrorism Task Force.

Read more: http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/cunningham/20070831-9999-1n31tommyk.html

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So now the strategy is to appeal to the wingnuts by saying he was doing all of this crap out of "patriotism"! Sheesh! Still a lot of stuff that was redacted. It looks like they have the full court transcripts online at a link here too, which might be worth perusing.

http://uniontrib.com/more/konto

[Demeter]

1. Confusing PATRiotism With PATRonage

His finger slipped when he was looking it up in the dictionary.

[bos1]

2. San Diego must be punished. nt

[Peace Patriot]

3. "ongoing investigation by the federal Joint Terrorism Task Force"--lot of scandal news today.

That phrase--"ongoing investigations"--keeps coming up.

See

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2973720

and

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2973501


(--and my comment #1, at the first, and comment #25, in the second, re: "the Mother of all Scandals")

Also

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=102x2973475

[donkeyotay]

4. Yes, the court transcripts were interesting even if redacted

But the wingnuts shouldn't get too happy if they read Mr. K's reasons more fully. After claiming he's just trying to help his country, Judge Burns asks what else he would get (from bribing a US congressman):

Judge: did you believe you were buying influence?

Kontaggianas: Definitely.

So much for noble. Does anyone know anything about MCM as opposed to MZM? I'm guessing it's a transcription error.