Vietnam War hero-turned-disgraced Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham has died, according to published reports.

The former San Diego-area representative died Wednesday in Little Rock, Arkansas, from an undisclosed illness, according to those same reports. Cunningham's mother and brother lived in the Southern state far from San Diego and Washington, D.C.

Cunningham, who served more than eight years in prison after pleading guilty to federal corruption charges in 2005, was reportedly 83 years old at the time of his death. In 2005, he admitted accepting $2.4 million in illegal gifts from defense contractors in exchange for government contracts and other favors. At the time, it was considered the largest bribery scandal in congressional history.

A Republican, Cunningham represented Californ

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