Duke loves his wife and his kids, and their support, as well as the support of a few close friends, has sustained him through these last few difficult months.

Mr. Cunningham acted not out of passion, not a crime on the spur of the moment, he acted out of greed.

This man has been humiliated beyond belief by his own hand. He is estranged from those he loves most and cares most about. All his worldly possessions are gone. He will carry a crushing tax debt until the day he dies. He will go to jail until he's 70 years old.

There are men in this courtroom who are walking around and breathing because Duke Cunningham put his life at risk. There is no doubt that all of the good that he did in those many years will be washed away.

We submit that a six-year prison term cannot be called a slap on the wrist.