"Duke" keeps his pension...

Duke't believe it. This guy is busted for stealing millions from us and we still have to pay him for life. Theft, lies, dishonesty, are all a win-win situation in our government. He'll get paroled for a 1st offense and end up sitting on his $7000 toilet on his yacht on our dime.....amazing, fucking amazing!
Splat!

By Jackie Kucinich

Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham (R-Calif.) will soon relinquish many of his properties and his freedom after pleading guilty to charges of fraud and conspiracy, but he will keep his government pension and could retain the privileges enjoyed by other former members of Congress.

Cunningham has served in the House 17 years, and his right to his federal pension will not be affected by his crimes, according to a senior House aide familiar with the rules. He will also receive benefits accrued during his service in the U.S. Navy, in which he served from 1966 to 1987.

Ordinarily, upon leaving Congress, former House members, like former senators, get lifetime floor privileges, access to the gym and a parking space.

“The Speaker’s office has yet to receive his letter of resignation,” said Ron Bonjean, a spokesman for Speaker Dennis Hastert (R-Ill.), but he added that the office expects the letter soon. “We are looking at this matter very seriously,” he said.


http://www.hillnews.com/thehill/export/TheHill/News/Frontpage/113005/news1.html

only when they find out they send you on packing with a full severance package, presents from your coworkers, gushing comments like "he's a man of integrity", and no legal troubles whatsoever.

See, the Republicans HAVE returned the government to the children, I mean adults...

Pension funds are only partly owned by the recipient if that person is married. His wife has a vested community property interest in any money that's been built up over time and that includes retirement funds. They would be hard-pressed to take her spousal rights away.

Not to say that she deserves the funds: I just don't know either way.

then maybe people would think before this did something like this.

Besides, I think she had to have known what was going on and was probably complicit in the matter (after all, how the hell did she possibly think they could buy a $2mil house, a yacht, a Rolls Royce, etc.?)

You think Ken Lay's wife should be able to keep everything he stole from Enron's shareholders? I don't think so!

Say you snatched up a couple of million extra dollars. Think your wife might have noticed? And doesn't she sign the tax return, too?

She should have been charged, as well.

Why is this dude not going to jail?

10 years, max.

but certainly not his congressional pension, unless that was one of the plea bargains worked out for his resignation and guilty plea

are about to be thrown off of any assistance rolls because of a prior drug conviction.

http://www.bellaonline.com/articles/art36970.asp

Where is the justice in this society?

Not for felons. The law should be changed.

And I think I am being generous in saying that he should keep his military pension.

pension. I guess, I should have said triple dipping, forgot the $2.4 million in bribes!

A mansion, a yacht and $1.8 million in cash. Silver candelabras and a Rolls Royce.

http://www.mercurynews.com/mld/mercurynews/news/local/states/california/northern_california/13286931.htm

WASHINGTON - A mansion, a yacht and $1.8 million in cash. Silver candelabras and a Rolls Royce.

The details of Rep. Randy "Duke" Cunningham's ill-gotten gains, contained in his plea agreement admitting bribery and tax evasion, read like a "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire" fantasy.

The plea document also shows how a lawmaker who seemingly hungered for money and the trappings of wealth played the system for years, falling deeper into corruption as he was eagerly helped along by some of the dealmakers who populate Washington.

Constituents of Cunningham, a San Diego-area Republican and Vietnam War hero, said they were outraged by his admissions.

Patricia Ferrier wrote a $750 check to Cunningham after he called her several months ago to complain about his legal troubles.

<snip>

"We, his remaining friends, have spent the last day with Duke praying and talking about a new chapter in Duke's life, a chapter of service to God," Hunter said.

...more...

IIRC treason is the only offense for which a
congressperson can lose his or her Congressional pension.

That might prove interesting. Maybe Bush will pardon him on the way out the White House door. Nothing would surprise me anymore.