State Rep. Hunter used campaign funds allegedly for extramarital affairs
WASHINGTON — Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-El Cajon, used campaign money to fund a series of extramarital affairs with congressional staffers and lobbyists, federal prosecutors allege in a new court filing in his corruption case.
Prosecutors say Hunter improperly diverted funds “to pursue these romances wholly unrelated to either his congressional campaigns or his official duties as a member of Congress.”
The filing comes less than two weeks after Hunter’s wife and former campaign manager, Margaret Hunter, pleaded guilty of conspiring to misuse campaign funds.
In August, a federal grand jury indicted the couple, alleging they illegally financed a lavish lifestyle of travel, gifts, fine dining and other expenses with campaign money, then submitted false reports to the Federal Election Commission to cover it up.
In total, prosecutors said, the Hunters spent more than $250,000 on personal expenses — including dental care and their children’s tuition — that they listed as campaign-related gifts, donations and travel.
In Monday’s motion, prosecutors asked a federal judge for permission to present evidence about the extramarital affairs as part of their case.
Hunter declined Tuesday to respond to the allegations and gave no sign that he would seek a deal with prosecutors to settle the case.
“I’m going to trial on this, right? So I’m not going to give you a statement on their allegations,” he told reporters outside the House chamber.
He accused Justice Department prosecutors of engaging in a “personal smear campaign.”
The trial is due to begin in September in federal court for the Southern District of California.
Prosecutors approached Hunter about making a deal “that would eliminate the need to introduce this potentially sensitive evidence at trial,” they wrote in the filing. Hunter’s attorney declined.
Margaret Hunter’s surprise guilty plea June 13 has complicated the congressman’s defense, legal experts say.
Former prosecutor and San Diego attorney Jason A. Forge said it is likely prosecutors will call Margaret Hunter to testify against her husband in return for a lighter prison sentence.
“They clearly have testimony from his mistresses, testimony from his campaign manager, testimony from other witnesses,” Forge said. “Despite all of that, they’ve recommended a substantial (sentencing) reduction for her. I don’t know of any other benefit the government could get from her without her testimony.”
He said that during her testimony, lawyers would probably ask her to confirm that “she and her husband knew what they were doing” and intended to “use campaign funds to finance their lifestyle.”