Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-California) resigned from Congress on Monday after pleading guilty to bribery and tax fraud in federal court.
Cunningham, 63, admitted to accepting money, cars, vacations and other favors in order to steer military contracts to friends and campaign contributors. He faces up to 10 years in prison and fines and forefeitures.
Cunningham is the second Republican to plead guilty to a corruption scheme involving Congress. Last week, Republican public relations executive Michael Scanlon pleaded guilty to conspiracy, including bribery of a Republican member of Congress, for his work with tribes.
"The indictments and the investigations have strengthened the feeling that people have that in fact there's too much money in Washington and that the money is being used to influence official decisions," William McInturff, a Republican pollster with Public Opinion Strategies, told The Washington Post. "Polls show that neither party is held in high regard."
Get the Story:Congressman Admits Taking Bribes, Resigns (The Washington Post 11/29)
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A Growing Wariness About Money in Politics (The Washington Post 11/29)
Lawmaker Quits After He Pleads Guilty to Bribes (The New York Times 11/29)
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