Congressman Cunningham wore a
wire
Time
By TIMOTHY J. BURGER
January 6, 2006
Washington's power players have always bragged about being well-wired, but
for disgraced former congressman Duke Cunningham, "wired" wasn't just a figure
of speech. In a week when legislators are focused on the question of who else
might be brought down by ex-lobbyist Jack Abramoff's cooperation with
prosecutors as he seeks lenient sentencing over his two federal guilty pleas
this week, sources tell TIME that in a separate investigation, ex-Rep.
Cunningham wore a wire to help investigators gather evidence against others
just before copping his own plea.
Sources familiar with the situation say Cunningham, a California Republican
who pleaded guilty Nov. 28 to taking $2.4 million in bribes—including a
yacht, a Rolls Royce and a 19th-century Louis-Philippe commode—from a
defense contractor, wore a wire at some point during the short interval between
the moment he began cooperating with the feds and the announcement of his
guilty plea on Nov. 28.
The identity of those with whom the San Diego congressman met while wearing
the wire remains unclear, and is the source of furious—and
nervous—speculation by congressional Republicans. A Cunningham lawyer, K.
Lee Blalack, refused to confirm or deny the story, and wouldn't say whether
Cunningham will implicate any other members of Congress. The FBI is believed to
be continuing its probe of defense contractors involved in the Cunningham case.
An FBI spokesman declined comment. Asked whether Cunningham, an ace Navy
fighter pilot decorated for his service in Vietnam, had worn a wire, the
spokesman said the response from a higher-up was, "Like I'd tell you."
—With reporting by Brian Bennett/Washington
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