Fraud

GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter Has Been Indicted

Written by SK Ashby

Representative Duncan Hunter (R-CA) and have his wife have been indicted by federal prosecutors in the Southern District of California for illegally using his campaign funds for a wide range of personal luxuries and expenses.

Among many, many other things, Rep. Hunter is accused of using his campaign funds to pay for luxurious vacation trips, large amounts of alcohol, and video games.

From CNN:

The charges of wire fraud, falsifying records, campaign finance violations and conspiracy were the culmination of a Department of Justice investigation that has stretched for more than a year, during which the Republican congressman from California has maintained his innocence. [...]

Hundreds of thousands of dollars in unusual charges on Hunter's campaign credit card had come under scrutiny, including among other things, an Italian vacation, dental work, purchases at a surf shop, and huge tabs at bars in restaurants in the San Diego and Washington DC areas. Among the most mocked charges was airfare for a pet rabbit to fly with the family, which an aide said was mistakenly charged to the wrong credit card.

Hunter, a former Marine, has reimbursed his campaign account some $65,000 since the Federal Election Commission first questioned spending on video games in 2016, according to Federal Election Commission records.

A press release from the Department of Justice credits the San Diego Union-Tribune for first exposing Rep. Hunter's use of campaign funds for personal expenses. It was the Union-Tribune that first reported that Rep. Hunter had used campaign funds to pay for video games on the popular Steam platform.

Obviously, this doesn't bode well for the GOP's chances of retaining this seat in Congress.