RANDY CUNNINGHAM, the Republican Congressman who collected $2.4 (£1.4 million) in bribes from defence firms, was last night sentenced to eight years and four months in prison, the longest ever handed out to a US politician.

The former war hero was close to tears when he told the judge: “Your honour, I have ripped my life to shreds due to my actions. I made a very wrong turn.” Cunningham’s lawyers had asked for leniency, citing his distinguished military career and saying that his prostate cancer gave him no more than seven years to live.

But Jason Forge, the federal prosecutor, said: “The length, breadth and depth of Cunningham’s crimes against the people of the United States are unprecedented for a sitting Member of Congress. So, too, should be his sentence. For the better part of a decade, Cunningham, in effect, erected a ‘for sale’ sign upon our nation’s capital.”

The scandal is just one of several to have hit Washington in recent months. Jack Abramoff, a Republican lobbyist, is also facing a lengthy sentence for bribery in a case that is expected to lead to the indictment of several Congressmen.

President Bush has swiftly condemned Cunningham, and sought to distance himself from Mr Abramoff, but incumbent Republicans fear a voter backlash against them in the mid-term Congressional elections this November.

Cunningham, 64, a Vietnam war air ace and a “Top Gun” pilot, was first elected to Congress in 1990, representing a large part of northern San Diego. As chairman of a sub-committee he attracted the interest of defence firms.

Federal investigators began to take interest in Cunningham’s financial dealings after he sold his California house for $1.7 million in November 2003. The buyer, Mitchell Wade, a defence contractor, never moved in and almost immediately put it back on the market, selling at a loss of $700,000.

It was subsequently disclosed that two contractors had paid $2.4 million to Cunningham, who at one point created a “bribe menu” that spelt out the amount of money it would take to win federal contracts.

In Washington his activities were so blatant that he even lived on a 42ft yacht provided, rent free, by one such firm.

When he pleaded guilty in November, Cunningham agreed to forfeit $1.8 million in bribes, his financial interest in the Rancho Santa Fe house and a long list of antiques and other furnishings now to be auctioned off by the Government.

A CATALOGUE OF BRIBES

Randy Cunningham’s “menu to buy influence”:

• A Rolls-Royce
• A 42ft yacht valued at $140,000 (£80,000)
• Homes
• Travel
• Free meals
• $40,000 Persian rugs
• A $7,200 antique Louis-Philippe commode

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