I'm a blogger in the 50th District - turf of Randy "Duke" Cunningham.
He's a 7+ year incumbent. This year his only real competition is a local grassroots candidate Francine Busby
I'm attempting to chronical any local dealings the Representitve Randy "Duke" Cunningham and his Real Estate-gate. As well as the laundry list of ethical imparments and other general wankery.
Let us begin with current events, and work backwards.
Recently, this headline shows how he attempted to use his influence in the defence contract appropriations for the pentagon to personally benefit through contacts with defense industry insiders.
Facts of the case are starting to look really bad...
First off, Mitchell Wade is from MZM Inc. a defense contractor who wasn't doing to well until about 2003-2004. He started winning contracts through the subcommittee on intellegence and defense appropriations subcommittee. Both are committees that Randy "Duke" Cunningham sits on.
Around 2003 is when Duke sold his home to Mitchell Wade. Strange parts are coming up. Mitchell Wade owns a business in Nevada. Not San Diego. Mitchell Wade bought the home with his business in Nevada. Why would a defense contractor purchase an average home in Del Mar, San Diego?! The explaination didn't make sense either...
We were looking at expanding our company presence in San Diego," Brumett said. "We looked at the property and thought it would work for us. But after we bought it, we realized that it did not meet our security or our corporate needs." DUH!!
Update:
As it turns out the realtor, Elizabeth Todd, have been past contributors to the campaign - 18 separate times totaling $11,500 dollars in 1997. WHOOSH!
[...]
Cunningham sold his house through a realtor, Elizabeth Todd, who he said had set a fair and independent price. However, Todd and two family members have made 18 separate contributions totaling $11,500 to Cunningham's congressional campaign committee since 1997, according to records at the Federal Election Commission.
According to Copley News Service, records state that Cunningham sold the house to 1523 New Hampshire Avenue LLC. Nevada state business records show that Wade owns that company. It is the address of his Washington, D.C., office.
[...]