GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter, wife indicted for allegedly misusing campaign funds
By Juliegrace Brufke - 08/21/18 06:27 PM EDT
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) and his wife, Margaret, were indicted Tuesday after being charged with misusing at least $250,000 in campaign funds for personal expenses, the Department of Justice announced.
The California Republican used the funds to purchase trips to Italy and Hawaii, pay for his family's dental work, his children's tuition and international travel for nearly a dozen relatives, according to the DOJ. Thousands were also spent on "fast food, movie tickets, golf outings, video games, coffee, groceries, home utilities, and expensive meals."
Hunter allegedly falsified campaign records filed to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to conceal the purchases by mischaracterizing the expenses as "'campaign travel,' 'dinner with volunteers/contributors,' 'toy drives,' 'teacher/parent and supporter events,' 'gift cards' for charitable donations, and 'gift basket items,' among other false descriptions,'" the DOJ said.
The allegations against the couple were detailed in a 48-page indictment returned by a federal grand jury in California.
The GOP lawmaker and his wife are scheduled to be arraigned on the indictment Thursday morning in court in southern California, according to the Justice Department.
“The indictment alleges that Congressman Hunter and his wife repeatedly dipped into campaign coffers as if they were personal bank accounts, and falsified FEC campaign finance reports to cover their tracks,†U.S. Attorney Adam Braverman said in a statement.
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http://thehill.com/homenews/house/402930-gop-rep-duncan-hunter-wife-indicted-for-allegedly-misusing-campaign-funds