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Duke Cunningham

Duke Cunningham
Duke Cunningham.jpg
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 50th district
In office
January 3, 2003 – November 28, 2005
Preceded by Bob Filner
Succeeded by Brian Bilbray
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 51st district
In office
January 3, 1993 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by District created
Succeeded by Bob Filner
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from California's 44th district
In office
January 3, 1991 – January 3, 1993
Preceded by Jim Bates
Succeeded by Al McCandless
Personal details
Born Randall Harold Cunningham
(1941-12-08) December 8, 1941 (age 75)
Los Angeles, California
Political party Republican
Spouse(s) Susan Albrecht (m. 1965; div. 1973)
Nancy Jones (m. 1974)
Religion Christian Churches/Churches of Christ
Awards Navy Cross
Silver Star (2)
Purple Heart
"Flying Ace" status
Military service
Allegiance  United States
Service/branch  United States Navy
Years of service 1967–1987
Rank US-O5 insignia.svg Commander
Battles/wars Vietnam War
Cunningham scandal
A U.S. political scandal in which government contracts were obtained with bribes to Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham.

Guilty
Duke Cunningham
Occupation Politician, former Congressman
Criminal charge Conspiracy to commit bribery, mail fraud, wire fraud and tax evasion
Criminal penalty 100 months (8 years, 4 months) imprisonment
Criminal status Released

Randall Harold Cunningham (born December 8, 1941), usually known as Randy or Duke, is a United States Navy veteran and former Republican member of the United States House of Representatives from California's 50th Congressional District from 1991 to 2005.

Cunningham resigned from the House on November 28, 2005, after pleading guilty to accepting at least $2.4 million in bribes and under-reporting his taxable income for 2004. He pleaded guilty to federal charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, mail fraud, wire fraud and tax evasion. He was sentenced to eight years and four months in prison and was ordered to pay $1.8 million in restitution. On June 4, 2013, Cunningham completed his prison sentence and he currently lives in Arkansas.

Prior to his political career, Cunningham was an officer and pilot in the U.S. Navy for 20 years. Cunningham and Radar Intercept Officer (RIO) William P. "Irish" Driscoll, working as a flight crew, became the only navy flying aces of the Vietnam War. He was one of the most highly decorated United States Navy pilots in the Vietnam War, receiving the Navy Cross once, the Silver Star twice, the Air Medal 15 times, and the Purple Heart . Following the war, Cunningham became an instructor at the U.S. Navy's Fighter Weapons School, better known as TOPGUN, and commanding officer of Fighter Squadron 126 (VF-126), a shore-based adversary squadron at NAS Miramar, California.


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