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Duncan Hunter resignation from Congress on Tuesday.
Rep. Duncan Hunter submitted his resignation from Congress on Tuesday, marking the end of an 11-year stint in the House marred by his misuse of campaign funds for a variety of endeavors, including spending money on Lego sets, movie tickets, a $14,000 family vacation to Italy and flights for his family’s pet bunny rabbit.
In his resignation letters to Speaker Nancy Pelosi and California Gov. Gavin Newsom, Hunter said his resignation would be effective Jan. 13. “It has been an honor to serve the people of California’s 50th District, and I greatly appreciate the trust they have put in me over these last 11 years,” he wrote.
The California Republican pleaded guilty in federal court on Dec. 3 to using hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funds for his own enrichment. Hunter and his wife, Margaret, who pleaded guilty in June, illegally converted over $150,000 in campaign funds from 2010 through 2016 to buy goods and services for their own interests, according to the plea agreement. Hunter’s sentencing is scheduled for March 17 before U.S. District Judge Thomas J. Whelan in the Southern District of California.
The soon-to-be-ex-congressman could serve between eight and 14 months in jail, but Whelan will be the ultimate arbiter. The charge Hunter pleaded guilty to— conspiracy to steal campaign funds — carries a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a fine of $250,000.
“Not a single dime of taxpayer money is involved in this,” Hunter told San Diego’s KUSI News in December. “The plea that I accepted was misuse of my own campaign funds of which I plead guilty to only one count.”
He did, though, say he made “mistakes,” adding, “I did not properly monitor or account for my campaign money.”
Hunter’s exit was expected: he issued a statement on Dec. 6 making his intent to resign his seat clear.
“Shortly after the Holidays I will resign from Congress. It has been an honor to serve the people of California’s 50th District, and I greatly appreciate the trust they have put in me over these last 11 years,” he said in the statement.
“Senior leadership in both the district and D.C. office plan to stay at the current time to ensure continuity and constituent services,” said Mike Harrison, Hunter’s communications director. He added that Rick Terrazas, Hunter’s chief of staff will stay on in D.C.
Harrison had no comment on what Hunter’s plans are for the future and noted Hunter’s upcoming sentencing hearing.
Had Hunter not accepted the plea agreement, he would have faced trial in the Southern District of California on Jan. 22. He was indicted in August 2018, a lengthy filing in which federal prosecutors charged Hunter and his wife in a 60-count indictment.
They alleged Hunter pursued intimate personal relationships with congressional staffers and lobbyists and used campaign funds on those activities. Two of those alleged romantic partners worked in the House, one on Hunter’s congressional staff and one in House leadership. House rules prohibit members from having sexual relationships with subordinates.
