Duncan Hunter
| Duncan Duane Hunter | |
|---|---|
| Born: | December 7, 1976 San Diego, California |
| Charges: | Conspiracy to misuse campaign funds |
| Sentence: | 11 months (never served) |
| Facility: | |
| Status: | Pardoned |
Duncan Duane Hunter (born December 7, 1976) is a former American politician who served as the U.S. Representative for California's 50th congressional district from 2009 to 2020. A Marine Corps veteran who served combat tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Hunter was one of the earliest members of Congress to endorse Donald Trump's 2016 presidential campaign. In December 2019, Hunter pleaded guilty to conspiracy to misuse more than $150,000 in campaign funds for personal expenses, including family vacations, video games, and extramarital affairs. He was sentenced to 11 months in prison but never served any time after receiving a full presidential pardon from President Trump on December 22, 2020.[1]
Summary
Duncan Hunter followed his father, Duncan L. Hunter Sr., into both the Marine Corps and Congress. After serving three combat tours including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, Hunter won election to his father's congressional seat in 2008 when the elder Hunter retired. He quickly established himself as a conservative voice on military affairs and was among the first members of Congress to endorse Donald Trump for president in 2016.
Hunter's political career unraveled when federal prosecutors began investigating his campaign finances. In August 2018, a grand jury indicted Hunter and his wife Margaret on 60 criminal counts alleging they had converted more than $250,000 in campaign funds for personal use. The expenses ranged from family vacations to Italy and Hawaii, to plane tickets for their pet rabbit, to video games for their children, to dental work and extramarital affairs.
Hunter initially blamed his wife for the financial misconduct and fought the charges, but ultimately pleaded guilty in December 2019. His pardon by President Trump allowed him to avoid serving his 11-month prison sentence entirely.
Background
Early Life and Family
Duncan Duane Hunter was born on December 7, 1976, in San Diego, California. His father, Duncan L. Hunter Sr., served in Congress representing the San Diego area from 1981 to 2009 and was chairman of the House Armed Services Committee. The elder Hunter also sought the Republican presidential nomination in 2008.
Education
Hunter attended San Diego State University but did not graduate before joining the Marine Corps.
Military Service
Hunter enlisted in the United States Marine Corps after the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks. He served three combat tours, including deployments to Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004 and to Afghanistan. He achieved the rank of Major before leaving active duty, though he continued to serve in the Marine Corps Reserve.
Hunter was the first Marine combat veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars to serve in Congress, a distinction he frequently emphasized in his political career.[2]
Congressional Career
Election to Congress
In 2008, when his father announced his retirement from Congress, Duncan Hunter ran to succeed him in California's 52nd congressional district (later redistricted to the 50th district). He won the Republican primary and general election easily in the heavily Republican district encompassing San Diego's East County.
Hunter was reelected multiple times, serving nearly six terms in Congress. He sat on the House Armed Services Committee, following in his father's footsteps, and was known as a strong advocate for military issues.
Trump Endorsement
In early 2016, Hunter became one of the first members of Congress to endorse Donald Trump for president, joining Rep. Chris Collins of New York as early congressional Trump supporters. This early endorsement helped establish Trump's credibility with parts of the Republican establishment.
Campaign Finance Scandal
Investigation and Indictment
Federal investigators began examining Hunter's campaign finances after the Federal Election Commission flagged unusual expenditures. On August 21, 2018, a federal grand jury in San Diego indicted Hunter and his wife Margaret on 60 criminal counts, including conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, wire fraud, falsification of records, and prohibited use of campaign contributions.[3]
The Misused Funds
According to prosecutors, between 2010 and 2016, Hunter and his wife "converted and stole" more than $250,000 in campaign contributions for personal use. The expenditures included:
- Family vacations to Italy, Hawaii, and other destinations
- Airline tickets for their pet rabbit to travel with them
- More than $1,500 on video games
- A birthday party for their daughter at the Hotel Del Coronado
- Dental work
- School tuition for their children
- Romantic encounters with lobbyists and congressional aides
Prosecutors alleged that the Hunters concealed their spending by creating false records claiming the expenses were legitimate campaign costs, such as describing golf outings as "balls for wounded warriors."[1]
Initial Defense and Blame
Hunter initially proclaimed his innocence and blamed his wife for the financial misconduct, stating that Margaret Hunter was responsible for managing the campaign's finances. Despite the pending charges, he ran for reelection in 2018 and won, though by a smaller margin than in previous elections.
Guilty Plea
On December 3, 2019, Hunter pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of conspiracy to misuse campaign funds. As part of the plea agreement, he admitted to knowingly using campaign money for personal expenses. He announced he would resign from Congress, which he did on January 13, 2020.[2]
Sentencing
In March 2020, Hunter was sentenced to 11 months in federal prison. He was ordered to report to prison in January 2021.
Margaret Hunter, who had pleaded guilty in June 2019 and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors, was sentenced to 8 months of home confinement.
Presidential Pardon
On December 22, 2020, President Donald Trump granted Duncan Hunter a full pardon before he was scheduled to report to prison.[1] The following day, Trump also pardoned Margaret Hunter.
The White House statement said the pardon came at the request of "many" members of Congress and was supported by former Federal Election Commission Commissioner Bradley Smith.
Hunter served no prison time as a result of the pardon. However, in 2022, the Federal Election Commission determined that the presidential pardon did not cover civil liability for campaign finance violations, and both Hunters were assessed fines totaling $16,000.[4]
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What did Duncan Hunter do?
Duncan Hunter pleaded guilty to conspiracy to misuse campaign funds. Between 2010 and 2016, Hunter and his wife Margaret used more than $250,000 in campaign contributions for personal expenses including family vacations to Italy and Hawaii, airline tickets for their pet rabbit, video games, dental work, and romantic encounters with lobbyists and congressional aides. He pleaded guilty in December 2019.[1]
Q: Was Duncan Hunter pardoned?
Yes, President Trump granted Duncan Hunter a full pardon on December 22, 2020. Hunter had been sentenced to 11 months in prison but never served any time due to the pardon. Trump also pardoned Hunter's wife Margaret the following day. Hunter was one of the earliest congressional supporters of Trump's 2016 campaign.[2]
Q: How long was Duncan Hunter's prison sentence?
Hunter was sentenced to 11 months in federal prison in March 2020. However, he never served any prison time because President Trump pardoned him in December 2020, before he was scheduled to report to prison in January 2021. His wife Margaret was sentenced to 8 months of home confinement.[1]
Q: What happened to Margaret Hunter?
Margaret Hunter pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. She was sentenced to 8 months of home confinement. President Trump pardoned her on December 23, 2020. Despite the pardons, the FEC later fined both Hunters for civil campaign finance violations, as the pardons did not cover civil liability.[4]
Q: What was Duncan Hunter's military service?
Hunter served in the United States Marine Corps and completed three combat tours, including service in Iraq and Afghanistan. He was the first Marine combat veteran of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars to serve in Congress. His father, Duncan L. Hunter Sr., also served in Congress and the military.[2]
See also
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 NBC San Diego, "Trump Pardons Convicted Former Rep. Duncan Hunter," December 2020, https://www.nbcsandiego.com/news/local/trump-pardons-convicted-former-rep-duncan-hunter/2478584/
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 San Diego Union-Tribune, "Trump grants full pardon to former Rep. Duncan Hunter," December 2020, https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/courts/story/2020-12-22/trump-grants-full-pardon-to-former-rep-duncan-hunter/
- ↑ Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, "Trump has granted clemency to 17 corrupt politicians—so far," https://www.citizensforethics.org/reports-investigations/crew-investigations/trump-has-granted-clemency-to-16-corrupt-politicians-so-far/
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 The Daily Beast, "Feds Slap Disgraced Rep. Duncan Hunter With Measly Fine After Trump Pardon," 2022, https://www.thedailybeast.com/feds-slap-disgraced-rep-duncan-hunter-with-measly-fine-after-trump-pardon/