Duke Cunningham

Randall "Duke" Cunningham, b. Dec. 8, 1941, was a Republican congressman from California's 50th district(northern San Diego) who resigned from the House on November 28, 2005, when it was found that he had been receiving illicit bribes in total of at least $2 million, receiving luxury gifts like a yacht and expensive jewelry, underreporting his income for 2004, and he may also have been treated to expensive weekend get aways at posh resorts with paid female prostitutes to accompany him. Cunningham denied the charges vehemently at first, but later came clean with a very heartfelt and tearful apology to his family, friends, and constituents. The bribes, gifts and comped treatment at the resorts were received by Randall Cunningham in exchange for lucrative defense contracts for Pentagon to local California contractors and businessmen. On March 3, 2006, he received a sentence of eight years and four months in prison and an order to pay $1.8 million in restitution. Cunningham was succeeded by congressman Brian Bilbray following a special election.