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Rep. Duncan Hunter and wife appear at campaign fund misuse case hearing

Hunters return to court in campaign fund case
Hunters return to court in campaign fund case
Posted at 8:15 PM, Sep 23, 2018
and last updated 2018-09-25 08:13:48-04

SAN DIEGO (KGTV) - Attorneys for Republican Congressman Duncan Hunter and his wife, Margaret, asked for more time Monday to review two terabytes of evidence in the couple's campaign fund misuse case.

A San Diego federal judge scheduled the couple's next hearing for December 3 after defense attorneys cited the 12,000 pages of evidence filed by prosecutors September 10.

The Hunters are accused of spending more than $250,000 in campaign funds on personal expenses. Both pleaded not guilty in August to 60 charges.

Prosecutors say the couple used campaign money on lavish vacations and other personal expenses. The affidavit detailed funds spent on hotel rooms for different individuals and various social outings, including one involving 30 shots of tequila. The relationship between Hunter and each individual mentioned in the affidavit was not revealed.

Rep. Hunter told 10News earlier, "there was wrong campaign spending, but it was not done by me.”

HUNTER COVERAGE:

Rep. Hunter and his wife arrived at court separately for Monday's status hearing.

As the U.S. Representative for District 50, Hunter has an annual salary of $174,000, according to ballotpedia.org. However, attorneys said in August the Hunters have no financial assets and have been living paycheck to paycheck. The judge sent Rep. Hunter’s bail at $15,000 and his wife’s at $10,000.

Rep. Hunter will remain on the November ballot for the 50th Congressional District race, opposing Ammar Campa-Najjar. In the June Primary, Hunter finished with 49 percent of the vote with Campa gaining 16 percent.