Duke Cunningham, war hero turned corrupt congressman, dies at 83

[Zorro]

The former San Diego-area representative served more than eight years in prison following federal charges of corruption first exposed by Union-Tribune

From ace fighter pilot to Vietnam War hero to member of Congress and finally federal prisoner, Randy “Duke” Cunningham lived an American dream before it crashed in scandal two decades ago.

Cunningham rose to the highest levels of public adoration — first as a decorated aviator sometimes credited with inspiring the Tom Cruise character Maverick in the hit 1980s movie “Top Gun,” later as an elected representative after winning his first campaign in 1990.

But like others before and since, Cunningham succumbed to the trappings of elective office. He pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges in 2005 and spent eight and a half years in prison for his crimes.

The seven-term congressman, who shared a nickname with the Hollywood icon John Wayne and served his final days outside his adopted hometown of Little Rock, Ark., died on Wednesday in a Little Rock hospital from an undisclosed illness. He was 83.

https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/2025/08/28/duke-cunningham-war-hero-turned-corrupt-congressman-dies-at-83/