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22 Aug 2018, 8:45 am
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The grand jury indictment paints a picture of the Hunters as a couple with serious financial problems who began dipping into about $250,000 worth of campaign funds to pay their expenses. The Hunters allegedly overdrew their joint checking account more than 1,100 times during a seven-year period, leading to more than $37,000 in overdraft charges, according to the indictment. Their credit cards were also maxed out, leading to more than $24,000 in additional charges.
"By virtue of these delinquencies - as well as notifications of outstanding debts and overdue payments from their children's school, their family dentist, and other creditors - the HUNTERS knew that many of their desired purchases could only be made by using Campaign funds," the indictment alleges. "The goal of the conspiracy was for DUNCAN HUNTER and MARGARET HUNTER to enrich themselves, and others at their direction, by converting Campaign funds for their own personal benefit and enjoyment, and for the personal benefit of others with whom the HUNTERS had personal relationships."
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Hunter, one of the first lawmakers on Capitol Hill who endorsed his candidacy, was a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump's campaign.
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Speaker Paul Ryan said in a statement Tuesday that Hunter will be removed from his committee assignments pending a resolution to the criminal case.
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Prosecutors allege that the Hunters falsely mislabeled their personal expenses “campaign travel,” “dinner with volunteers/contributors,” “toy drives,” “teacher/parent and supporter events,” “gift cards” for charitable donations, and “gift basket items.” At one point they purchased “personal clothing items at a golf course so that the purchase could be falsely reported to the Treasurer as ‘balls for the wounded warriors,’” the indictment reads. They would also allegedly book vacations using Expedia.com so the campaign records would not disclose locations of destinations.
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In the indictment, prosecutors detail how the Hunters lavished their friends and family with gifts and fancy nights out on the town, and how Hunter doted on several unnamed “individuals” in Washington. He spent more than $160, for example, for a one-night stay at the Liaison Capitol Hill hotel with one such individual. He took another on a ski trip in early 2010, and later to Virginia Beach on vacation.
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Hunter’s name will continue to appear on the ballot this fall next to a progressive Democrat, Ammar-Campa Najjar, rather than another Republican.
In a statement, Campa-Najjar said “The division, chaos and corruption in Washington has gone too far”—and called for San Diego to elect him.
“Today’s indictment confirms just how deep this corruption can reach when someone like Duncan Hunter Jr. is in it for himself instead of representing the people,” he said. “Now is the time to put country over party and rise against this corruption and rise above the divisive politics. Together, we can bring real change and fresh thinking to represent the people of CA-50."
"By virtue of these delinquencies - as well as notifications of outstanding debts and overdue payments from their children's school, their family dentist, and other creditors - the HUNTERS knew that many of their desired purchases could only be made by using Campaign funds," the indictment alleges. "The goal of the conspiracy was for DUNCAN HUNTER and MARGARET HUNTER to enrich themselves, and others at their direction, by converting Campaign funds for their own personal benefit and enjoyment, and for the personal benefit of others with whom the HUNTERS had personal relationships."
...
Hunter, one of the first lawmakers on Capitol Hill who endorsed his candidacy, was a vocal supporter of President Donald Trump's campaign.
...
Speaker Paul Ryan said in a statement Tuesday that Hunter will be removed from his committee assignments pending a resolution to the criminal case.
...
Prosecutors allege that the Hunters falsely mislabeled their personal expenses “campaign travel,” “dinner with volunteers/contributors,” “toy drives,” “teacher/parent and supporter events,” “gift cards” for charitable donations, and “gift basket items.” At one point they purchased “personal clothing items at a golf course so that the purchase could be falsely reported to the Treasurer as ‘balls for the wounded warriors,’” the indictment reads. They would also allegedly book vacations using Expedia.com so the campaign records would not disclose locations of destinations.
...
In the indictment, prosecutors detail how the Hunters lavished their friends and family with gifts and fancy nights out on the town, and how Hunter doted on several unnamed “individuals” in Washington. He spent more than $160, for example, for a one-night stay at the Liaison Capitol Hill hotel with one such individual. He took another on a ski trip in early 2010, and later to Virginia Beach on vacation.
...
Hunter’s name will continue to appear on the ballot this fall next to a progressive Democrat, Ammar-Campa Najjar, rather than another Republican.
In a statement, Campa-Najjar said “The division, chaos and corruption in Washington has gone too far”—and called for San Diego to elect him.
“Today’s indictment confirms just how deep this corruption can reach when someone like Duncan Hunter Jr. is in it for himself instead of representing the people,” he said. “Now is the time to put country over party and rise against this corruption and rise above the divisive politics. Together, we can bring real change and fresh thinking to represent the people of CA-50."
According to a Justice Department statement, during the period from 2009 to 2016, Rep. Duncan Hunter and his wife "illegally used campaign money to pay for personal expenses that they could not otherwise afford." | Carolyn Kaster/AP Photo
