I greatly admire him for his prowess as a fighter pilot and what he accomplished in Vietnam. I have read several accounts of the battle on 10 May, 1972 and he did a hell of a job. I do not know much of the details of how he has done as a Congressman though I know he has been a stauch defense advocate.
With all that said, I have noticed a few stories about this the past few days:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20050624-9999-1n24duke.html
Here is an earlier article:
"Lawmaker's Home Sale Questioned"
San Diego Union-Tribune - Published on: 6/12/2005
Mitchell Wade, a defense contractor with ties to U.S. Rep. Randy Cunningham (R-Calif.), took a $700,000 loss on the purchase of the representative's house while Cunningham, a member of the influential Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, was supporting the contractor’s efforts to get tens of millions of dollars in contracts from the Pentagon. Wade bought Cunningham's house for $1,675,000 in November 2003 and put it back on the market almost immediately for roughly the same price. However, the home languished unsold and vacant for 261 days before selling for $975,000. In 2003 and 2004, roughly around the time of the house transaction, business for Wade's company, MZM, Inc., began to soar. In fiscal year 2003, it received $41 million in defense contracts. Since then, MZM has added tens of millions of dollars in additional contracts, including a $5 million contract to provide interpreters in Iraq. Meanwhile, Cunningham used the proceeds of the $1,675,000 sale to buy a $2.55 million house in Rancho Santa Fe. Cunningham conceded the circumstances surrounding the transaction could raise questions, but he insisted the real estate deal was legitimate and independent of his efforts to help Wade win contracts. "My whole life I've lived aboveboard," said Cunningham. "I've never even smoked a marijuana cigarette. I don't cheat. If a contractor buys me lunch and we meet a second time, I buy the lunch. My whole life has been aboveboard and so this doesn't worry me. The last thing I would do is get involved in something that … is wrong. And I feel very confident that I haven't done anything wrong." Congressional and political watchdog organizations expressed concerns, saying the circumstances raise questions about whether the transaction might constitute an illegal campaign contribution or even an official bribe. "This doesn't look good at all," said Center for Responsive Politics Director Larry Noble. "It doesn't look like something that was on the up and up." Scotty Brumett, an official of MZM, said Wade purchased the residence to raise the company's corporate profile in San Diego. Property records do not list Wade or MZM as the buyer of Cunningham's house. Instead, the records state Cunningham sold the house to 1523 New Hampshire Avenue LLC. Nevada state business records show Wade owns that company, as well. It is the address of his Washington, D.C., office.
My first impression, it does not look quite kosher. Especially as someone who is a homeowner and who lives in the DC area, where housing prices have skyrocketed in the past few years.
Any thoughts?
With all that said, I have noticed a few stories about this the past few days:
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/politics/20050624-9999-1n24duke.html
Here is an earlier article:
"Lawmaker's Home Sale Questioned"
San Diego Union-Tribune - Published on: 6/12/2005
Mitchell Wade, a defense contractor with ties to U.S. Rep. Randy Cunningham (R-Calif.), took a $700,000 loss on the purchase of the representative's house while Cunningham, a member of the influential Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, was supporting the contractor’s efforts to get tens of millions of dollars in contracts from the Pentagon. Wade bought Cunningham's house for $1,675,000 in November 2003 and put it back on the market almost immediately for roughly the same price. However, the home languished unsold and vacant for 261 days before selling for $975,000. In 2003 and 2004, roughly around the time of the house transaction, business for Wade's company, MZM, Inc., began to soar. In fiscal year 2003, it received $41 million in defense contracts. Since then, MZM has added tens of millions of dollars in additional contracts, including a $5 million contract to provide interpreters in Iraq. Meanwhile, Cunningham used the proceeds of the $1,675,000 sale to buy a $2.55 million house in Rancho Santa Fe. Cunningham conceded the circumstances surrounding the transaction could raise questions, but he insisted the real estate deal was legitimate and independent of his efforts to help Wade win contracts. "My whole life I've lived aboveboard," said Cunningham. "I've never even smoked a marijuana cigarette. I don't cheat. If a contractor buys me lunch and we meet a second time, I buy the lunch. My whole life has been aboveboard and so this doesn't worry me. The last thing I would do is get involved in something that … is wrong. And I feel very confident that I haven't done anything wrong." Congressional and political watchdog organizations expressed concerns, saying the circumstances raise questions about whether the transaction might constitute an illegal campaign contribution or even an official bribe. "This doesn't look good at all," said Center for Responsive Politics Director Larry Noble. "It doesn't look like something that was on the up and up." Scotty Brumett, an official of MZM, said Wade purchased the residence to raise the company's corporate profile in San Diego. Property records do not list Wade or MZM as the buyer of Cunningham's house. Instead, the records state Cunningham sold the house to 1523 New Hampshire Avenue LLC. Nevada state business records show Wade owns that company, as well. It is the address of his Washington, D.C., office.
My first impression, it does not look quite kosher. Especially as someone who is a homeowner and who lives in the DC area, where housing prices have skyrocketed in the past few years.
Any thoughts?
