Friday
December 02, 2005
SGN.org
Volume 33
Issue 48
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Saturday, Nov 21, 2009
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Gay marriage foe quits House in disgrace |
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| Gay marriage foe quits House in disgrace | ||
| By Paul Johnson
- 365Gay.com Writer
WASHINGTON - Randy "Duke" Cunningham, one of the sponsors of the Federal Marriage Amendment, resigned from Congress on Monday after pleading guilty to taking more than $2.4 million in bribes. The San Diego-area Republican faces a lengthy jail term. "The truth is, I broke the law, concealed my conduct and disgraced my office, a tearful Cunningham told reporters at a San Diego news conference. "I know that I will forfeit my freedom, my reputation, my worldly possessions and most importantly, the trust of my friends and my family." Cunningham, 63, pled guilty to receiving at least $2.4 million in bribes that included over a million dollars in cash, antique Persian rugs, furniture, use of a yacht, club fees, a Rolls Royce and vacation expenses in exchange for steering defense contracts to two conspirators. The decorated Vietnam War veteran ran his last campaign on "family values". Some of the bribe money he received went to pay for a graduation party for his daughter. Cunningham was a sponsor of the 2004 attempt to amend the Constitution to bar same-sex marriage and a co-sponsor of the 2005 attempt. The congressman already had announced in July - after the investigation became public - that he would not seek re-election next year. But until he entered his plea, he insisted he had done nothing wrong. Attempts by Republicans in Congress to pass a proposed amendment to ban same-sex marriage failed in 2004.(story) The measure was re-introduced in the House in March (story) A Senate version was submitted in January. Cunningham loses everything he has, according to legal experts, including his $2.5 million estate in Rancho Santa Fe and the 42-foot motor yacht he called home while working in Washington. The plea comes amid a series of GOP scandals: Rep. Tom DeLay of Texas had to step down as majority leader after he was indicted in a campaign finance case; a stock sale by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist is being looked at by regulators; and Vice President Dick Cheney's chief of staff was indicted in the CIA leak case. Calif. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's office will have 14 days to set a date for an election to replace Cunningham. The election must be held within 120 days after that. Meanwhile, the author of the 2004 version of the amendment, Marilyn Musgrave (R-Colo) is in trouble in her district. Musgrave won her last election by a slim margin after being targeted by state and national LGBT rights groups. In 2006 she is seen as vulnerable and later today President Bush will stump on her behalf in Colorado (story). Courtesy of 365Gay.com |
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International Readers |
 
It's new!A blog created by the SGN staff so you can be heard |
"Putting on the Ritz |
The Beauty of Freedom artist's reception |
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