California congressman pleads guilty to bribery, tax charges News
California congressman pleads guilty to bribery, tax charges

[JURIST] Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R-CA) [official website] pleaded guilty Monday to charges of conspiracy to commit bribery, mail fraud, wire fraud and tax evasion and promptly resigned from office. Cunningham admitted to taking $2.4 million in bribes in a case that stemmed from an investigation into the sale of his home and became a wide-ranging probe uncovering payments in cash, yacht-club fees and antiques. The scandal is one of a few recent GOP controversies including a campaign finance case [JURIST report] involving Rep. Tom DeLay (R-TX) [official website; campaign website]; an investigation [JURIST report] into a stock sale by Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist [official website]; and the CIA leak case [JURIST news archive] involving former chief of staff to Vice President Cheney, I. Lewis "Scooter" Libby. AP has more.

THIS DAY @ LAW

Charlemagne crowned Holy Roman Emporer

On December 25, 800 A.D., Charlemagne was crowned Holy Roman Emperor by Pope Leo III in Rome, Italy. During his lifetime, Charlemagne united most of Western Europe for the first time since the fall of the Western Roman Empire. He is credited with spreading the rule of law throughout his dominions as well as starting the French and German monarchies.

President Andrew Johnson pardoned Confederates

On December 25, 1868, President Andrew Johnson granted an unconditional pardon to all who had been involved in "insurrection or rebellion" during the US Civil War.