Rep. Duncan Hunter and his wife indicted in use of campaign funds for personal expenses

[Mrs. Overall]

Source: CNN

Rep. Duncan Hunter and his wife, Margaret, were indicted Tuesday on charges related to the misuse of $250,000 worth of campaign funds for personal expenses and the filing of false campaign finance records.

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.

Republican Party leaders had long worried that with a potential indictment looming, Hunter's traditionally safe district which makes up much of eastern San Diego County could be at risk of Democratic takeover in November's midterm election.

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.



Read more: https://www.cnn.com/2018/08/21/politics/duncan-hunter-campaign-charges/index.html

[Julian Englis]

1. There is an apparently endless supply of crooked Republican politicians.n/t

[workinclasszero]

27. Bottomless pit

full of the pigs for sure.

[Lindsay]

2. This has certainly

not been a very good day for the Republicans.

[Just Carl]

3. ....followed by a resignation from Rep. Hunter

Freeing up another seat.

[muriel_volestrangler]

18. Article says "Many Hunter allies believe he will stay in his House seat while fighting the charges"

But you have to campaign fraud charges would put off even Republicans. A 'top two primary', so it's only him and his Dem challenger on the ballot - no write-ins.

[stuffmatters]

21. Yes,yes & fingers crossed!!! Too late for Repugs to switch & no write-ins allowed in top two.

[Ruby the Liberal]

35. Can't wait to hear them defend this to the base

[rurallib]

44. lord, that is about as low as it can get

[Ruby the Liberal]

56. It truly is amazing

The indictment is at this link. Lots more fun stuff about lying about charities when they went to the dentist and pharmacy, trying to set up fake 'review' meetings at military bases abroad to justify vacations, and blaming their purchases of video games on their kids.

Jaw dropping stuff.

https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/mb4nnv/heres-all-the-insane-stuff-vaping-congressman-duncan-hunter-charged-to-his-campaign-credit-cards

[calimary]

39. Well that's what Chris Collins thought, too.

[grantcart]

25. He can resign his seat but would still be on the ballot

In CA you have to go to court to take your name off a ballot.

[Liberty Belle]

60. He said today he won't resign.

Though of course after the election if he's convicted and behind bars, he will have to resign or be kicked out.

[sinkingfeeling]

4. Wow, this day keeps getting better and better.

[ffr]

8. +1

Something we can always throw in the face of those who complained about how passionate we were about electing Hillary and other democrats last November.

[bucolic_frolic]

5. SO much winning

must be a lot of Crooked Angry Democrat Grand Juries under the thumbs of Rigged Prosecutors trying to taint the Trumpsky Party!!

[BumRushDaShow]

6. Just saw WaPo breaking

Rep. Duncan D. Hunter (R-Calif.) and wife indicted on charges they used campaign money for personal expenses


By Washington Post Staff
August 21 at 6:27 PM

Hunter and his wife, Margaret, are accused of spending more than $250,000 in campaign funds on family vacations, school tuition, theater tickets and other personal expenses, according to the Justice Department.

This is a developing story. It will be updated.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/politics/wp/2018/08/21/rep-duncan-d-hunter-r-calif-and-wife-indicted-on-charges-they-used-campaign-money-for-personal-expenses/?utm_term=.126ab20b1204

[AllyCat]

23. Just doing what GOPpers do.

[BumRushDaShow]

28. The swamp creatures. nt

[The Genealogist]

7. Its like the whole Republican party is having a case of the Mondays this Tuesday

[ffr]

10. It's Super Tuesday folks!

[DemoTex]

15. X1000!

Super Tuesday!

[lagomorph777]

52. Super Duper Tuesday!

I'm starting to get sick of winning.

[rurallib]

45. let us hope it is the first of many

[cloudbase]

9. He can tap into the campaign account

to fund his defense.

[BigmanPigman]

40. That is probably what this reptile will do.

Corruption is his middle name. He was the second GOP rep to endorse the moron.

[beachbum bob]

11. Endless line of corrupt republicans, we need a better deterrent, perhaps

Gitmo?

[lagomorph777]

53. Deterrent or detergent? Wash these men right out of our hair!

[CountAllVotes]

12. Feed that greed

Or make it simple, just lock 'em all up NOW!

& recommend!

[Scurrilous]

13. Good news!

[DemoTex]

14. Merry Christmas, Happy Birthday, Chag Urim Sameach! and all that is bonne fete!

What a day! Join me in a big bowl of Schadenfreude!

[Honeycombe8]

16. OMG! It's raining corrupt Republicans!!! Drain the swamp! Lock 'em up!!! nt

[Botany]

17. From wiki

Hunter endorsed Donald Trump for president on February 24, 2016, after Trump's victory in the Nevada caucuses. He and Chris Collins (R-NY) were the first members of Congress to endorse Trump.

[Mc Mike]

49. I'd hate to see what his #3 Congress member endorser has gotten up to.

[stuffmatters]

19. Great news!!!DH,Sr bequeathed his seat to his spoiled, stupid, obnoxious son, DH,Jr.

Even today,many voters still think they're voting for Sr. This indictment hopefully will put that voter ignorance to bed.

[not fooled]

38. Yeah, it frosts me, too

he counts on the dumbass East County 'necks and mountain folk to not realize that it's no longer the father occupying the seat.

The news media should never fail to refer to him by his rightful name, DH Jr.

[BigmanPigman]

41. At a protest rally against him some people still didn't know the difference.

They are the rocket scientists who thought Obamacare was NOT the same as the ACA (until it was being taken away from them). DUH!

[The Liberal Lion]

20. Couldn't happen to a nicer guy

[grantcart]

22. Agreed, a terrible terrible person.

[dbackjon]

24. First two Congresscritters to endorse Shitstain have been indicted

Collins and Hunter

[DesertRat]

26. They'll need to build a new jail for all the GOP crooks!

[lagomorph777]

54. Mar A Gitmo

Plenty of space for more trailers.

[DesertRat]

55. Perfect name!

[nkpolitics1212]

29. Duncan Hunter senior is very upset.

Brian Bilbray is the front runner to replace Duncan Hunter junior.

[Stuart G]

30. Could be just the beginning.....I think the "pet rabbit" is a bit of a carrot!

[riversedge]

31. There are no write-ins in CA general elections & no mechanisms for Rs to get Hunter off the ballot

SWEET


NurseMom Retweeted
Dave Wasserman
‏Verified account @Redistrict
13m13 minutes ago

There are no write-ins in CA general elections & no mechanisms for Rs to get Hunter off the ballot. Another headache for Rs in what should be a safe seat. #CA50

Link to tweet

[Owl]

32. Another crook.

[riversedge]

33. Hunter's wife is a real sleeze...........

Last edited Thu Aug 23, 2018, 04:51 PM - Edit history (1)

Link to tweet

[Judi Lynn]

47. That's so rotten! Typical Republicans. Such nasty people. n/t

[Mc Mike]

50. T Rump brand golf balls. Nt

[Recursion]

36. Delicious. Duncan Hunter is scum. (nt)

[Lulu KC]

37. this day is just too good! n/t

[shadowmayor]

42. Well

He certainly is his Daddy's boy!

[Hekate]

43. This is the cherry in top of this day...

[KWR65]

46. Rep. Hunter may be a crook, but he is a Republican Crook.

So Republicans will vote for him even if he murdered someone on 5th Ave in NYC.

[RandiFan1290]

48. kick nt

[lagomorph777]

51. What a world, what a world!

So much great news in one day; I can't process it all!

[Ruby the Liberal]

57. In case anyone wants to read the indictment (47 pages!) here's the link

Some truly mind boggling lies - and you can almost hear them laughing in the quotes. Wow.

https://news.vice.com/en_us/article/mb4nnv/heres-all-the-insane-stuff-vaping-congressman-duncan-hunter-charged-to-his-campaign-credit-cards

[Spartacus101]

58. Oh, he's "eager" to get to court, is he?

....I used to live next to this clown's district...

...he has his father's exact first and last name...nice strategy, so when the old boy retired, he could stick his kid in the running, and all the dumb-asses in his district thought they were voting for the same guy...

This district is so heavily gerrymandered-red it ain't funny.

We used to call the old boy "Hunky-Dunky, Prince of El Kabong (El Cajon-Spanish for 'The Box') and Environs".

Big news day.

"Ah! what terror shall be shaping
When the Judge the truth's undraping—
Cats from every bag escaping! " -Ambrose Bierce

MEOW!

[Liberty Belle]

59. Indictment says he as cheating with mistresses and drinking heavily, which his own lawyer affirms:

Hunter’s attorney, Gregory A. Vega of the Sletzer Caplan McMahon Vitek law firm, in a letter to Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein dated August 6th, claimed the investigation was biased and Vega had asked that the indictment be postponed for an “impartial review” and suggested the timing could influence the outcome of the November election. The attorney also objected to “personal indiscretions of the Congressman that the prosecutors seem intent on charging” noting that prosecutors “even said they have `pictures’ to prove it” for the reported aim of demonstrating “spending of campaign funds for extramarital infidelities and excessive drinking.”

Vega adds, “While there may be evidence of infidelity, irresponsibility, or alcohol dependence, once properly understood, the underlying facts do not equate to criminal activity; these allegations are, however intended to embarrass and humiliate the Congressman shortly before a crucial election, and also to alienate him from his wife, the only other person under investigation and his intended co-defendant.”

The Justice Department rejected Vegas’ request.

Read Vargas' letter here: http://www.trbas.com/media/media/acrobat/2018-08/69867364663980-21155408.pdf