Rep. Duncan Hunter has resigned from Congress.
The 42-year-old California Republican submitted his letter of resignation to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi on Tuesday with an effective date of Jan. 13. He pleaded guilty last month to one count of conspiracy to misuse campaign funds. Hunter said days later he would resign “shortly after the holidays,” but the San Diego-area lawmaker, first elected in 2008, did not specify a date.
A federal indictment filed in August 2018 alleged Hunter and his wife, Margaret, illegally spent more than $250,000 in campaign donations to cover expenses. Both were indicted on 60 counts in federal court in August 2018. Each later agreed to plead guilty to one charge in lieu of a trial.
Prosecutors outlined many of the ways that Hunter misused campaign finances, with stolen funds going to golf outings, vacations, fancy restaurants, alcohol, and even airfare for the family’s pet rabbit. In one instance, Hunter wanted to buy a pair of “Hawaiian shorts,” according to the indictment. His wife, 44, advised him to buy the clothing at a golf shop in order to write off the money as going toward golf balls for wounded veterans.
Also included in the indictment was an expansive list of Hunter’s illegal expenses, including $704 worth of tickets to see How the Grinch Stole Christmas at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego and $1,528 spent on video game purchases.
The federal indictment also found evidence that Hunter was unfaithful to his wife with at least five other women, three of whom are either lobbyists or congressional staffers.
When he pleaded guilty, Hunter said, “It’s important not to have a public trial for three reasons, and those three reasons are my kids.”
“Whatever my time in custody will be, I will take that hit. My only hope is that the judge does not sentence my wife to jail. I think my kids need a mom in the home,” he added.
Hunter’s delay in stepping aside was criticized by Carl DeMaio, a Republican who is hoping to take his place in Congress.
“By intentionally delaying his resignation past the deadline for the calling of a Special Election, Duncan Hunter is silencing the voice of the voters of the 50th District for a full year in Congress. He should have resigned as soon as he pleaded guilty,” DeMaio previously told the Washington Examiner.
Both Duncan and Margaret Hunter face up to five years in prison. Gov. Gavin Newsom will have two weeks to call for a special election to fill Hunter’s seat.
