Campaign Records Raided: Rep. Duncan Hunter Possibly Linked To Fraud

SAN DIEGO, CA – With Rep. Duncan Hunter under investigation by the FBI for possibly misusing campaign funds, newly released records show that a Virginia campaign consulting shop was raided for all campaign records related to the congressman.

According to a search warrant affidavit, federal investigators in March seized all records relating to Hunter, his wife Margaret Hunter, his campaign committee and any political committee designed to support the election of Hunter, a Republican representing California's 50th congressional district, which includes much of San Diego County and portions of Riverside County.

Investigators searched for evidence relating to whether campaign contributions were used for personal reasons and whether Hunter's campaign finance reports were falsified "with the intent to impede or influence" the investigation of his campaign spending by the FBI, House Ethics Committee and the Office of Congressional Ethics, according to the warrant. Investigators also searched for evidence of "a scheme to defraud First National Bank by making false statements related to video game charges which resulted in the refunding or crediting of charges not properly due" in 2016.

About $1,300 in video game charges were among Hunter's expenses questioned by the Federal Election Commission. Hunter reported the charges on his 2015 year-end campaign finance disclosure form, according to his spokesman, Joe Kasper. His office claimed the charges were made mistakenly by his son.

Hunter has also been questioned for using campaign funds to pay airline expenses for his family rabbit.

Hunter has since reimbursed his campaign $62,000 for expenses such as a family vacation in Italy, dental surgery and purchases in the Disneyland gift shop. Kasper told Patch in January that the large repayment was given in an "overabundance of caution."

The warrant was discovered and posted on Twitter by Seamus Hughes of the George Washington University Program on Extremism.

Records were seized from ElectionCFO, a consulting company based in Alexandria, Virginia. According to the company's website, ElectionCFO provides treasurer services to review and file regulatory reports.

Chris Marston of ElectionCFO declined Wednesday to comment. He referred questions to his lawyer, Jason Torchinsky, a partner at the law firm Holtzman Vogel Josefiak Torchinsky in Warrenton, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. Torchinsky could not immediately be reached for comment.

An FBI spokeswoman also declined to comment.

"Unfortunately, we do not have no comment for you, as it is FBI policy to neither confirm nor deny the existence of a FBI investigation," said Kelsey Pietranton with the FBI's National Press Office.

Hunter's office has not responded to emails from Patch.

Hunter is among the California Republicans being targeted by Democrats in 2018. Some of his challengers were quick to criticize him on Wednesday.

"We need to bring Integrity back to the 50th District," Republican challenger Andrew Zelt said on Twitter. "We cannot stand for this!"

Democrat Josh Butner also released a statement.

"As this FBI investigation into Congressman Hunter’s alleged corruption drags on, Hunter has proven he is unable to focus on his constituents that need a leader in Washington who is 100% focused on delivering results for the people of East County," Butner said.

Related:

• A Rabbit's Airfare Is at the Center of the Fight Over Ethics Watchdog
• Calif. Congressman's Video Game Charges Prompt FEC Letter

IMAGE CREDIT: Joe Raedle / Getty Images News / Getty Images