Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, and his wife were indicted Tuesday, Aug. 21 on charges they used more than $250,000 in campaign funds for personal expenses, from video games and groceries to a European vacation, private school tuition and dental work.
Hunter, 41, who represents two-thirds of Temecula, and wife Margaret “repeatedly dipped into campaign coffers as if they were personal bank accounts, and falsified (Federal Election Commission) campaign finance reports to cover their tracks,” U.S. Attorney Adam Braverman said in a news release.
“Elected representatives should jealously guard the public’s trust, not abuse their positions for personal gain,” Braverman said. “Today’s indictment is a reminder that no one is above the law.”
Hunter campaign spokesman Steven Kane accused the U.S. Justice Department of “(weaponizing) the criminal justice system” and suggested the indictment is an attempt by prosecutors to thwart the will of voters.
“This is a political prosecution” launched by prosecutors who donated to Hillary Clinton’s campaign, Kane said.
The CA 50th district that Hunter represents is considered to be safely Republican. But with the investigation hanging over Hunter’s head, nonpartisan political forecasters have said it might be in play; Hunter faces a well-funded challenge from Democrat Ammar Campa-Najjar in November.
The Campa-Najjar campaign could not be reached immediately for comment.
The Hunters, who have three children, are scheduled to be arraigned at 10:30 a.m. Thursday in federal court in San Diego. They faces charges of conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States; wire fraud; falsification of records; prohibited use of campaign contributions and aiding and abetting.
Hunter has been under criminal investigation since June 2016, when The San Diego Union-Tribune started reporting a series of questionable expenses listed in the congressman’s campaign finance reports. Federal law forbids the use of campaign money for personal use.
The Hunters, prosecutors said, used campaign dollars for expenses they could not otherwise afford, including family vacations to Italy, Hawaii, Phoenix and Boise Idaho; dental work; theater tickets, and domestic and international travel for roughly a dozen relatives.
Tens of thousands of dollars were spent on video games, fast food, golf outings, movie tickets, coffee, groceries, home utilities and fine dining, federal prosecutors alleged in a 48-page indictment. Margaret Hunter, 43, worked on her husband’s campaign for a time.
In FEC filings, the couple mischaracterized their purchases as “campaign travel,” “dinner with volunteers/contributors,” “toy drives” and “teacher/parent and supporter events,” among other deceptions, prosecutors said. For example, family dental bills paid with campaign money were listed as a charitable donation to “Smiles for Life,” according to prosecutors.
The illicit spending continued “despite numerous warnings about the prohibition against using campaign funds for personal expenses and repeated inquiries from Duncan Hunter’s campaign treasurer about questionable purchases,” a U.S. Justice Department press release read.
Hunter repeatedly described the purchases as mistakes and oversights. After commissioning a campaign audit, he reimbursed his campaign almost $49,000 in November 2016.
“While the charges were primarily authorized by the campaign, the buck stops with me and I take full responsibility – including the responsibility to determine and implement other structural changes to ensure errors are not repeated,” Hunter said at the time.
Hunter is the son of longtime congressman Duncan Hunter. A Marine artillery officer who served in Iraq and Afghanistan, Hunter was first elected to Congress in 2008.
He established a reputation as an outspoken conservative and supporter of e-cigarettes. He once vaped during a congressional hearing on whether to ban e-cigarettes on airplanes. Hunter also was one of the first congressman to endorse then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump.
Redistricting gave Hunter most of Temecula in 2011. The state’s 50th Congressional District also includes northern San Diego County.
Source: OC Register
Duncan Hunter, who represents most of Temecula, indicted on campaign finance charges
More from congressMore posts in congress »
- Hunter Biden tells Congress he’ll testify publicly, setting up a potential high-stakes face-off
- House votes to prevent a government shutdown as GOP Speaker Johnson relies on Democrats for help
- Rep. Michelle Steel hopes federal intervention will curb deadly street racing
- Republicans pick Tom Emmer as their nominee for House speaker as they try for a third time
- Voting for House speaker is underway as Republicans try to elect Rep. Jim Jordan
More from national politicsMore posts in national politics »
- Rep. George Santos calls House colleagues ‘bullies,’ Jan. 6 participants wrongly imprisoned as expulsion vote looms
- Southern California is a focus for group working to elect Latinos to Congress
- TikTok ban, abortion politics: 7 Republican debate takeaways
- Democrats hoping to replace Feinstein make their cases at Riverside County event
- Biden campaign raises $71.3 million, far outpacing Trump and Republican field
More from NewsMore posts in News »
- Feds seek 12-year sentence for Ex-La Habra police chief’s role in Jan. 6 Capitol riot
- Penguin parents sleep for a few seconds at a time
- Kissinger’s legacy draws praise, scorn from across the globe
- Rep. George Santos calls House colleagues ‘bullies,’ Jan. 6 participants wrongly imprisoned as expulsion vote looms
- Shane MacGowan, frontman of the Pogues, dies at age 65
More from politicsMore posts in politics »
- Kissinger’s legacy draws praise, scorn from across the globe
- Rep. George Santos calls House colleagues ‘bullies,’ Jan. 6 participants wrongly imprisoned as expulsion vote looms
- Henry Kissinger, former secretary of state, dead at 100
- Google strikes deal with Canadian publishers over news content
- Hunter Biden tells Congress he’ll testify publicly, setting up a potential high-stakes face-off
More from Top Stories BreezeMore posts in Top Stories Breeze »
- 2024 Rose Parade: Who will this year’s grand marshal be?
- California added 125,715 foreign immigrants in 2022, up 14% from pre-pandemic pace
- Southern California real estate jobs grow at double the seasonal pace
- Firefighters see raw tragedy while helping us — who helps them?
- Cool, breezy days ahead with chance of midweek rain in Southern California
More from top stories ivdbMore posts in top stories ivdb »
- Southern California has 24 of nation’s priciest places to rent
- 2024 Rose Parade: Who will this year’s grand marshal be?
- California added 125,715 foreign immigrants in 2022, up 14% from pre-pandemic pace
- Southern California real estate jobs grow at double the seasonal pace
- Firefighters see raw tragedy while helping us — who helps them?
More from Top Stories LADNMore posts in Top Stories LADN »
- 2024 Rose Parade: Who will this year’s grand marshal be?
- California added 125,715 foreign immigrants in 2022, up 14% from pre-pandemic pace
- Human behavior matters when encountering any dog breed
- Southern California real estate jobs grow at double the seasonal pace
- Firefighters see raw tragedy while helping us — who helps them?
More from Top Stories LBPTMore posts in Top Stories LBPT »
- 2024 Rose Parade: Who will this year’s grand marshal be?
- California added 125,715 foreign immigrants in 2022, up 14% from pre-pandemic pace
- Southern California real estate jobs grow at double the seasonal pace
- Firefighters see raw tragedy while helping us — who helps them?
- Cool, breezy days ahead with chance of midweek rain in Southern California
More from Top Stories OCRMore posts in Top Stories OCR »
- Feds seek 12-year sentence for Ex-La Habra police chief’s role in Jan. 6 Capitol riot
- Southern California has 24 of nation’s priciest places to rent
- Newport Beach surgeon once accused of multiple sexual assaults gets probation for gun, drug charges
- 2024 Rose Parade: Who will this year’s grand marshal be?
- ‘Giving machines’ put vending twist on charitable giving in 2 OC locations
More from Top Stories PEMore posts in Top Stories PE »
- Southern California has 24 of nation’s priciest places to rent
- 2024 Rose Parade: Who will this year’s grand marshal be?
- California added 125,715 foreign immigrants in 2022, up 14% from pre-pandemic pace
- Southern California real estate jobs grow at double the seasonal pace
- Firefighters see raw tragedy while helping us — who helps them?
More from Top Stories PSNMore posts in Top Stories PSN »
- Picking a Rose Parade grand marshal is years in the making. Here’s why
- 2024 Rose Parade: Who will this year’s grand marshal be?
- California added 125,715 foreign immigrants in 2022, up 14% from pre-pandemic pace
- Southern California real estate jobs grow at double the seasonal pace
- Firefighters see raw tragedy while helping us — who helps them?
More from top stories rdfMore posts in top stories rdf »
- Southern California has 24 of nation’s priciest places to rent
- 2024 Rose Parade: Who will this year’s grand marshal be?
- California added 125,715 foreign immigrants in 2022, up 14% from pre-pandemic pace
- Human behavior matters when encountering any dog breed
- Southern California real estate jobs grow at double the seasonal pace
More from Top Stories SGVTMore posts in Top Stories SGVT »
- 2024 Rose Parade: Who will this year’s grand marshal be?
- California added 125,715 foreign immigrants in 2022, up 14% from pre-pandemic pace
- Southern California real estate jobs grow at double the seasonal pace
- Firefighters see raw tragedy while helping us — who helps them?
- Cool, breezy days ahead with chance of midweek rain in Southern California
More from top stories sunMore posts in top stories sun »
- Southern California has 24 of nation’s priciest places to rent
- 2024 Rose Parade: Who will this year’s grand marshal be?
- California added 125,715 foreign immigrants in 2022, up 14% from pre-pandemic pace
- Southern California real estate jobs grow at double the seasonal pace
- Firefighters see raw tragedy while helping us — who helps them?
More from Top Stories WDNMore posts in Top Stories WDN »
- Feds seek 12-year sentence for Ex-La Habra police chief’s role in Jan. 6 Capitol riot
- 2024 Rose Parade: Who will this year’s grand marshal be?
- California added 125,715 foreign immigrants in 2022, up 14% from pre-pandemic pace
- Human behavior matters when encountering any dog breed
- Southern California real estate jobs grow at double the seasonal pace
Be First to Comment