GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter, wife indicted for allegedly misusing campaign funds

[mystery-ak]

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.

more
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/402930-gop-rep-duncan-hunter-wife-indicted-for-allegedly-misusing-campaign-funds

[Wingnut]

Dumbass. 

[Sanguine]

I suspect most of us could be indicted for something tomorrow, if someone were to want to do that. 

[Wingnut]

I suspect most of us could be indicted for something tomorrow, if someone were to want to do that.

Logical. If you were maintaining your lifestyle off of other peoples money.

[endicom]

They can't keep their hands out of the cookie jar.

[Sanguine]

Logical. If you were maintaining your lifestyle off of other peoples money.

As you know, because you're a smart guy, I'm talking about too many laws and selective prosecution. 

[roamer_1]

I don't believe it. I will wait to hear the other side of this story.

[Frank Cannon]

As you know, because you're a smart guy, I'm talking about too many laws and selective prosecution.

Yeah but this isn't some bullshit mistake. The guy was taking luxury vacations with money that is clearly not for that purpose. If he wanted to live a high life like this he should have gotten a GD real job.

[Sanguine]

Yeah but this isn't some bullshit mistake. The guy was taking luxury vacations with money that is clearly not for that purpose. If he wanted to live a high life like this he should have gotten a GD real job.

We'll see.

[roamer_1]

We'll see.

YEP.

[Wingnut]

I don't believe it. I will wait to hear the other side of this story.

He's a politician.  They look at other peoples money as if it their own.  They are worse than whores.  At least with strumpets you generally pay for services rendered before you get rolled.

[roamer_1]

He's a politician.  They look at other peoples money as if it their own.  They are worse than whores.  At least with strumpets you generally pay for services rendered before you get rolled.

He's also a combat marine with two tours in Iraq and a tour in Afghanistan.
That don't rub off easy. He's also a hard core, rock ribbed Conservative, just like his daddy... That don't rub off either.

You can indict a ham sandwich. He is a man of honor, and until I see proof, I will give him the benefit of the doubt.

[Wingnut]

I've seen this before.  It was probably the wife living large.

[roamer_1]

I've seen this before.  It was probably the wife living large.

The wife who campaigned for him because he was recalled to Afghanistan?

[Wingnut]

The wife who campaigned for him because he was recalled to Afghanistan?

Hey. It's always the wife.   

[GrouchoTex]

Interesting to find out, Duncan Hunter and Chris Collins were the first 2 congressman to endorse Trump. Both were indicted today.

It think what we are witnessing now is a race between the Trump team verses the Clinton/Obama team to see who can shut down more on one side than the other one, to keep certain facts from coming out.

I think we are only at the beginning of this.

[corbe]

   That is scary @GrouchoTex 44 years ago this month 'they' hounded Nixon out of office.

[Free Vulcan]

Duncan, you should have been a Democrat. This wouldn't even have been investigated.

[catfish1957]

Not sure these charges are true, but this guy used to be a Freeper favorite.  If true, it just goes to show that even conservatives can bend to temptation. 

[Bigun]

He's a politician.  They look at other peoples money as if it their own.  They are worse than whores.  At least with strumpets you generally pay for services rendered before you get rolled.

Yep!  The allegations have been made  so Lets hang the  sorry bastard!

[Right_in_Virginia]

Yep!  The allegations have been made  so Lets hang the  sorry bastard!

But not Hillary!

[GrouchoTex]

   That is scary @GrouchoTex 44 years ago this month 'they' hounded Nixon out of office.

So I question if this is the 1st salvo fired by the left to prove they mean business?
Should the Trump team start indicting and laying their cards on the table?
Do they have enough on each other and their friends that they mutually self-destruct?
Is there one side more, just, righteous, than the other?
We would like to think it is our side, of course, against the Clinton/Obama side.
When the smoke clears, will it matter, will anyone be clean?
What if, as many say, they are all terrible actors in a bad play, a play, unfortunately, that ultimately effects us all?

[INVAR]

So I question if this is the 1st salvo fired by the left to prove they mean business?
Should the Trump team start indicting and laying their cards on the table?
Do they have enough on each other and their friends that they mutually self-destruct?
Is there one side more, just, righteous, than the other?
We would like to think it is our side, of course, against the Clinton/Obama side.
When the smoke clears, will it matter, will anyone be clean?
What if, as many say, they are all terrible actors in a bad play, a play, unfortunately, that ultimately effects us all?

Well, it's for all the marbles and the GOP has already established that the Left are untouchable as far as they are concerned... so  this is what happens when we begin to go the way of Rome, only at trillions of dollars faster.

[GrouchoTex]

Well, it's for all the marbles and the GOP has already established that the Left are untouchable as far as they are concerned... so  this is what happens when we begin to go the way of Rome, only at trillions of dollars faster.

@INVAR, you crossed my mind as I was writing this, and I do mean this as a compliment, sincerely.

[INVAR]

@INVAR, you crossed my mind as I was writing this, and I do mean this as a compliment, sincerely.

Why thank you.

You mused about the first salvo.... and this has possibly more to do with ensuring the Midterms go Democrat than a direct challenge to Trump.

Mueller and the Manafort convictions today will go a long way towards speeding that track of the velvet coup along on it's own.

How do we know all of DC has not been politically weaponized by the Clintons and Obama and the Marxists?  Taking it all down via setting public examples to affect political outcomes is what we are witnessing I think.  I mean it baffled me why it was, with all the evidence we little people discovered about everyone from Lois Lerner to Benghazi to the E-mail server, that the Republicans REFUSED to push those issues beyond empty kabuki theater hearings without so much as a slap on the wrist for any of them.

Maybe they were told point-blank what the end game was and given a choice: be part of the New Order, or get wiped out by it.  All of this maybe the very nasty examples they are showcasing to everyone.

And a climate of fear and/or retribution ensues - and we enter territory NONE of us are mentally prepared to deal with.

[InHeavenThereIsNoBeer]

Not sure these charges are true, but this guy used to be a Freeper favorite.  If true, it just goes to show that even conservatives can bend to temptation.

I suspect you're thinking of his father.

[catfish1957]

I suspect you're thinking of his father.

I think you are right.  I forgot about his son.

[mystery-ak]

Ryan removes GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter from committee assignments following indictment
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/402951-ryan-removes-gop-rep-from-committee-assignments-following-indictment

[GrouchoTex]

Why thank you.

You mused about the first salvo.... and this has possibly more to do with ensuring the Midterms go Democrat than a direct challenge to Trump.

Mueller and the Manafort convictions today will go a long way towards speeding that track of the velvet coup along on it's own.

How do we know all of DC has not been politically weaponized by the Clintons and Obama and the Marxists?  Taking it all down via setting public examples to affect political outcomes is what we are witnessing I think.  I mean it baffled me why it was, with all the evidence we little people discovered about everyone from Lois Lerner to Benghazi to the E-mail server, that the Republicans REFUSED to push those issues beyond empty kabuki theater hearings without so much as a slap on the wrist for any of them.

Maybe they were told point-blank what the end game was and given a choice: be part of the New Order, or get wiped out by it.  All of this maybe the very nasty examples they are showcasing to everyone.

And a climate of fear and/or retribution ensues - and we enter territory NONE of us are mentally prepared to deal with.

@INVAR

We've both spoken out on these forums that they were too much alike,you more than I.
I've often wondered "why"?
The obvious answer was power, but even that left me not 100% convinced that was all.
Fear is also a powerful motivator, and not just fear of losing power, but fear of being exposed.
These 2 factors, I think are the combination that keeps real change, back to what we all want, a constitutionally representative republic, from becoming a reality.

[INVAR]

Fear is also a powerful motivator, and not just fear of losing power, but fear of being exposed.
These 2 factors, I think are the combination that keeps real change, back to what we all want, a constitutionally representative republic, from becoming a reality.

I think those days are long gone and past. 

Adams' letter to Abigail on July 7, 1775 will ultimately be seen as pointedly prophetic in regards to liberty lost.

[GrouchoTex]

I think those days are long gone and past. 

Adams' letter to Abigail on July 7, 1775 will ultimately be seen as pointedly prophetic in regards to liberty lost.

Indeed,"Liberty once lost is lost forever".

[Formerly Once-Ler]

[Formerly Once-Ler]

https://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-gop-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/02/duncan-hunter-endorses-donald-trump-219725

Trump lands his first congressional endorsements

By NICK GASS

02/24/2016 10:59 AM EST

Donald Trump finally has official supporters in Congress.

Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.) told POLITICO on Wednesday that he will support Trump for the Republican nomination, making him one of the first members of Congress to express public support for the Manhattan businessman who is the prohibitive front-runner after his victory in Tuesday's Nevada caucuses.

Also on Wednesday, Rep. Chris Collins (R-N.Y.) told The Buffalo News that he is backing Trump, saying he has the "guts and fortitude" to get jobs back from China and to take on foreign threats such as the Islamic State and North Korea.

President Trump's next congressional endorsement was future AG Jeff Sessions.

[Free Vulcan]

https://www.politico.com/blogs/2016-gop-primary-live-updates-and-results/2016/02/duncan-hunter-endorses-donald-trump-219725

President Trump's next congressional endorsement was future AG Jeff Sessions.

So are you saying these endorsements are part of some insidious and nefarious web of corruption surrounding Trump, caused and cultivated by Trump for his own dark designs?

[Formerly Once-Ler]

So are you saying these endorsements are part of some insidious and nefarious web of corruption surrounding Trump, caused and cultivated by Trump for his own dark designs?

No.  Just an interesting coincidence. 

[Sanguine]

@Once-Ler, do you have a link for that?  Did they pay those back as indicated they should or not?

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Yeah but this isn't some bullshit mistake. The guy was taking luxury vacations with money that is clearly not for that purpose. If he wanted to live a high life like this he should have gotten a GD real job.

Yep. This wasn't something like not stopping properly at a red light or something. Read what he did, it was clearly wrong.

[Weird Tolkienish Figure]

Steam sales are big deals though.

[Formerly Once-Ler]

@Once-Ler, do you have a link for that?  Did they pay those back as indicated they should or not?

you can find the whole 48 page indictment here
https://www.krem.com/article/news/nation-now/gop-rep-duncan-hunter-and-his-wife-indicted-for-alleged-misuse-of-campaign-funds/465-12ab93a2-2c4c-4b8e-9798-1e2b6077f477

[Sanguine]

you can find the whole 48 page indictment here
https://www.krem.com/article/news/nation-now/gop-rep-duncan-hunter-and-his-wife-indicted-for-alleged-misuse-of-campaign-funds/465-12ab93a2-2c4c-4b8e-9798-1e2b6077f477

Thanks.

If they really did this, it was remarkably stupid.

[jmyrlefuller]

Hey. It's always the wife.

That's what the allegations I've seen suggest: the wife was the mastermind.

[Wingnut]

That's what the allegations I've seen suggest: the wife was the mastermind.

I tried to tell them.  Did they listen?  Nope. 

[roamer_1]

Thanks.

If they really did this, it was remarkably stupid.

That much is true. That it is so remarkably stupid is why I am so skeptical.
This smells the same as what happened to Tom Delay, who did in time clear his name... But far too late for his career.

[edpc]

He's also a combat marine with two tours in Iraq and a tour in Afghanistan.
That don't rub off easy. He's also a hard core, rock ribbed Conservative, just like his daddy... That don't rub off either.

You can indict a ham sandwich. He is a man of honor, and until I see proof, I will give him the benefit of the doubt.

Sometimes, the ham sandwich has some explaining to do, but may be entirely innocent.  See Mama Cass.