Duncan D. Hunter
⚠️ All Corruption Flags (3)
In August 2018, Rep. Duncan D. Hunter and his wife Margaret were indicted on 60 federal counts including conspiracy, wire fraud, and violating campaign finance laws. Prosecutors charged that the Hunters 'converted and stole' more than $250,000 in campaign funds for personal use — including trips to Hawaii and Italy, bar tabs, theater tickets, and school tuition for their children. Margaret Hunter pleaded guilty on June 13, 2019 and agreed to testify against her husband.
On December 3, 2019, Hunter pleaded guilty to one count of misusing campaign funds in exchange for prosecutors dismissing the remaining 59 counts. On March 17, 2020, U.S. District Judge Thomas Whelan sentenced Hunter to 11 months in federal prison. Margaret Hunter was separately sentenced to 8 months home confinement plus 3 years of probation in August 2020.
In December 2020, President Donald Trump pardoned both Duncan and Margaret Hunter. The pardon does not vacate the underlying guilty pleas.