The Federal Election Commission has issued $16,000 dollars in fines against former San Diego Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter, his wife and campaign committee for improperly handling political contributions.
The FEC released the results of their investigation that began in 2016 after a watchdog group filed a formal complaint against Hunter. Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington complained to the FEC after The San Diego Union-Tribune reported more than $100,000 in unusual expenditures disclosed by the congressman.
The FEC fined Duncan and his estranged wife Margaret Hunter $12,000 for wrongly spending campaign donations for personal use. Hunter's campaign committee received a $4,000 penalty for violations
The former congressman and his wife pleaded guilty in 2019 to a criminal charge that prosecutors said stemmed from them spending at least 250,000 dollars in campaign contributions on personal expenses. Hunter was sentenced to 11 months in prison but was pardoned by Donald Trump in the final weeks of his presidency in December of 2020. Hunter's wife, who agreed to cooperate with prosecutors was sentenced to eight months of home confinement and three years probation. She also was pardoned by then President Trump..
The Times of San Diego reported that under ordinary circumstances, the FEC would seek a substantially higher civil penalty of $133,000 based on the violations outlined in this agreement that remain within the statute of limitations. But the FEC said it took into account the fact that Hunter’s campaign committee has “demonstrated a lack of financial resources and the inability to raise additional funds.”. The campaign committee reported only $14,000 on hand.
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