“I failed to monitor and account for my campaign spending,” said Rep. Duncan D. Hunter, minutes after pleading guilty Tuesday to conspiracy to use campaign funds for personal use. The change of plea came as a sharp turnaround from Hunter’s former statements regarding the 2018 allegations.
“I made mistakes. That’s what today was all about,” said Hunter, addressing reporters outside U.S. District Court in San Diego. “That being said, I’ll have more statements in the future about the future.”
Hunter walked away amid heckling by several protesters with signs.
Because of the felony conviction, the Alpine Republican was expected to announce his resignation and the end of his 10-year representation of East County.
Hunter, 42, admitted in court to conspiring with his wife to use donated campaign funds for personal expenses such as groceries, trips and other purchases.
Hunter could face five years in federal prison when Judge Thomas Whelan sentences him on March 17, 2020. He remains free on $15,000 bond.
The indictment of Hunter and his wife in September 2018 alleged that he used $250,000 worth of campaign donations for dental treatment, restaurant meals with alcohol, play tickets and hotels with guests in Washington, D.C.
It is illegal to use federal campaign donations for personal use. Hunter re-paid $60,000 to his campaign several years ago.
“The government will be seeking a prison term,” said Assistant U.S. Attorney Phil Halpern, who added it would likely recommend “over a year” behind bars.
“This is a very sad day for the city of San Diego,” said Halpern, noting Hunter’s military career during three deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan before he ran for Congress in 2009 to succeed his father. “The government takes little pleasure in this announcement.”
Halpern added that “no one” is above the law and that “the rule of law remains.”
“This in effect puts an end to his political career,” said Halpern, adding that resignation from Congress was not part of the plea agreement.
Hunter was facing a stiff March 3 primary in which polls have shown other Republicans challenging him would likely beat him. One candidate, Carl DeMaio, showed up outside federal court after Hunter’s guilty plea, as did a Democratic candidate, Ammar Campa-Najjar, who narrowly lost to Hunter in 2018.
Hunter gave an interview to KUSI-TV (Channel 9) in which he hoped for a smooth transition to another Republican candidate who could win the 50th District Congressional race.
In the interview, Hunter said he was pleading guilty to spare his children the glare of his 1-month jury trial. Hunter is separated from his wife, Margaret, 44, of Alpine, and he lives with his father to save money.
Hunter fired his three other attorneys in late October and hired former District Attorney Paul Pfingst to represent him.
The U.S. Attorney contested Pfingst representing Hunter and initially sought to disqualify him because Pfingst’s firm also represented three other trial witnesses. On Tuesday, that motion was withdrawn in light of the guilty plea.
Margaret Hunter also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to use campaign funds and her sentencing is set for April 13. She also could face five years in prison, although her husband said in the KUSI interview he hopes she does not serve any time in prison.
Margaret Hunter had been set to testify against her husband in the Jan. 22 trial, which is now canceled. She remains free on $10,000 bond.
Rep. Hunter’s appellate attorney, Devin Burstein, said in court Tuesday Hunter’s appeal of Whelan denying his motion to dismiss the case was withdrawn from the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. The 59 other charges will be dismissed against Hunter when he is sentenced.
