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2w ago

Randy ‘Duke’ Cunningham, Vietnam Ace and Disgraced Congressman, Dies at 83

His decorated combat record preceded a congressional rise that ended in a bribery scandal, prison time, then a 2021 pardon.

FILE - Retired Maj. Gen. Patrick Brady, center left, shakes hands with Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif., after Cunningham spoke in support of the "Flag Protection Constitutional Amendment," on Capitol Hill, March 13, 2001, in Washington. (AP Photo/Dennis Cook, File)
FILE - Republican Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, center, of California, is escorted by his attorney, Mark Holscher, right, from the federal courthouse in San Diego, Nov. 28, 2005, after pleading guilty to bribery. (AP Photo/Denis Poroy, File)
FILE - Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham R-Calif, gestures while testifying on Capitol Hill in Washington, July 12, 1995. (AP photo/Dennis Cook, File)
File-This July 2005 file photo shows former Republican U.S. Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, flanked by his wife Nancy, during a news conference in San Marcos, Calif.

Overview

  • Cunningham died Wednesday at a Little Rock hospital at age 83, according to former Rep. Duncan L. Hunter, after months of health problems reported by aviation outlets.
  • He was credited as the first U.S. Navy ace of the Vietnam War with five MiG kills alongside RIO Willy Driscoll and received the Navy Cross, two Silver Stars, 15 Air Medals and a Purple Heart.
  • After combat service, he taught at the Navy’s Fighter Weapons School (TOPGUN), commanded VF-126 at NAS Miramar and retired as a Navy commander in 1987.
  • Elected to Congress in 1990, he resigned in 2005 after admitting he took at least $2.4 million in bribes to steer defense contracts, drawing an eight-years-and-four-months sentence in a scandal marked by a “bribe menu,” luxury gifts and a Rolls-Royce.
  • His case helped spur ethics changes including the creation of the Office of Congressional Ethics and limits on earmarking; he was released in 2013, pardoned by President Donald Trump in January 2021 and later lived in Arkansas while leading the American Fighter Aces Association.