Jeffersons Ghost

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Fri Mar-03-06 11:38 AM
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Another Rethug bites the dust: Cunningham cries over bribe taking

On Wednesday, January 4, 2006, Susan Schmidt of the Washington wrote, "Jack Abramoff, the once-powerful lobbyist at the center of a wide-ranging public corruption investigation, pleaded guilty yesterday to fraud, tax evasion and conspiracy to bribe public officials in a deal that requires him to provide evidence about members of Congress."

Now we see the beginning of the end for some congressional crooks. The Bush-Cheney campaign used Cunningham as a designated hit man in 2004. He went on national TV to attack Democrat John Kerry -- "We do not need a 'Jane Fonda' as commander in chief" -- and as someone who "would depreciate our military and our intelligence services in a time of war."

This was no aberration. In 1992, Cunningham branded Democratic nominee Bill Clinton a "traitor" for his anti-Vietnam War activities and said of all Vietnam War protesters, "I would have no hesitation about lining them up and shooting them."

Wade, who bought Congressman Cunningham's house, pleads guilty to conspiracy

By Finlay Lewis

* One-time wunderkind could get 11-year term
* Cunningham lawyers ask for mercy

WASHINGTON � Defense contractor Mitchell Wade pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday to conspiring to funnel more than $1 million in bribes to former Rep. Randy �Duke� Cunningham and making illegal campaign contributions to two other members of Congress.

While not named in the plea agreement, the two representatives are identifiable through campaign finance records as Republican Reps. Virgil Goode of Virginia and Katherine Harris of Florida. Neither has been accused of criminal wrongdoing.

Wade, the founder and former president of MZM Inc., also admitted to conspiring with an official of the Army's National Ground Intelligence Center in Charlottesville, Va., to defraud the Defense Department.

Mitchell Wade, 46, is facing up to 11 years in prison.

GUILTY PLEAS

One count of conspiracy to commit bribery

One count of using interstate facilities to promote bribery

One count of conspiring to deprive the Defense Department of the honest services of its employees

One count of election fraud
As part of the scheme, Wade hired the official's son in February 2002. He did so under an arrangement in which MZM was reimbursed for the son's employment from Pentagon funds committed to a document-scanning program, according to a prosecution document.

Later, Wade also hired the official, identified as William S. Rich Jr.

Rich �left work on a Friday and the next Tuesday he was back in the NGIC building as an MZM employee,� recalled a former government employee at the center.

Wade, dressed in a gray suit, choked up briefly yesterday as he read a statement in court expressing remorse and acknowledging his cooperation with federal investigators.

�I feel deep sorrow for the harm I've caused to my family, friends and former colleagues,� Wade, 46, told U.S. District Court Judge Ricardo Urbina.

Wade's purchase of Cunningham's Del Mar-area house figured prominently in the former congressman's own guilty plea in the fall. Wade bought Cunningham's house for $1.675 million in November 2003 and then sold it eight months later at a $700,000 loss.

The businessman began providing information to the government shortly after the tainted sale of Cunningham's house was disclosed in a Copley News Service story published June 12 in The San Diego Union-Tribune.

Wade is one of four co-conspirators named in the plea agreement and sentencing memorandum for Cunningham. The other co-conspirators are Brent Wilkes, owner of Poway-based ADCS Inc.; Thomas Kontogiannis, a Long Island, N.Y., developer; and John Michael, the nephew of Kontogiannis' wife and president of a Long Island mortgage company.

Wade pleaded guilty to two counts of conspiracy and single counts of election fraud and using interstate facilities to promote bribery. He faces a prison sentence of up to 11 years. No sentencing date was set.

Among the myriad actions designed to curry favor with Cunningham, the prosecution documents describe Wade's purchase of the Del Mar-area home at an inflated price, a payment of $13,500 to Cunningham for the purchase of a Rolls-Royce, a $140,000 payment for a yacht � renamed the Duke-Stir � that was made available to the congressman �for his use and enjoyment,� and a $7,200 payment to an antique store for two 19th-century commodes, a type of chest of drawers.

In the second conspiracy count, prosecutors said Wade plotted with Rich and �other (Defense Department) employees� to carry out wire fraud to fatten MZM's coffers.

here's the house a royal Republican Duke recieved for selling his votes:

here's the rest of the story: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/03/AR2006010300474.html

Another Rethug bites the dust: Cunningham cries over bribe taking

Wade, who bought Congressman Cunningham's house, pleads guilty to conspiracy

Abraham Lincoln said, "If you want to test a man's character, give him power."