Randy 'Duke' Cunningham, naval aviator and corrupt appropriator, dies at 83

Source: Roll Call

Posted August 29, 2025 at 4:56am


Former Rep. Randy “Duke” Cunningham, an ace naval aviator who resigned from Congress in disgrace after pleading guilty to corruption charges, died Wednesday at age 83. The San Diego Union Tribune reported that Cunningham died at a hospital in Little Rock, Ark., following an illness.

Cunningham, a California Republican, joined the Navy at age 25 and during the Vietnam War became the first “ace,” an honor given to combat pilots who shoot down five enemy planes.

First elected to Congress in 1990, Cunningham served eight terms until he resigned on Dec. 1, 2005, after he pleaded guilty to corruption charges. He held seats on the Appropriations and Intelligence committees at the time of his departure

In pleading guilty, Cunningham admitted to accepting at least $2.4 million in bribes. That included about $1 million in cash as well as rugs, antiques, furniture, yacht club fees, boat repairs, moving costs and vacation expenses, in exchange for using his appropriations role to obtain earmarks on behalf of defense contractors.

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