NOOSE CLOSING AROUND "DUKE" CUNNINGHAM

I suppose if "Duke" Cunningham chains himself to the desk he uses when Congress is in session, some kind of congressional immunity can keep him out of prison for a while. Otherwise, it looks like one of the most extreme and venal right wing loons west of Texas will be in the federal pen pretty soon. Today FBI agents searched his San Diego suburban mansion, a yacht belonging to the defense contractor who's been bribing him (and, in return, receiving extremely lucrative/no-bid contracts from the Pentagon), and the offices of MZM Inc, the company which has benefited so handsomely since it's owner, Mitchell Wade, started paying off Cunningham. Through his attorney Cunningham called the FBI raids "an appalling abuse of power by the government," although earlier he had claimed he would cooperate with the investigation (which apparently meant he would cooperate on his own terms so long as there was no chance of anyone finding any incriminating evidence). "Duke's" attorney called the FBI raids "strong-arm tactics."

In previous entries I went into the mechanics of how Wade paid off Cunningham (through a grossly inflated sale price for Duke's house). I think I neglected to mention that old "Duke" lives on Wade's yacht when he's in DC and doesn't pay rent (just the service and maintenance fees), which is a clear violation of congressional ethics rules. Looks like another job for Doc Hastings to keep from ever seeing the light of day! This guy's gotta be busy keeping all his buddies from being censured and kicked out of Congress!