Trump Pardons Former California Rep. Duncan Hunter

SAN DIEGO, CA — Former San Diego-area Rep. Duncan Hunter, who pleaded guilty last year to using campaign funds for personal expenses, received a full pardon Tuesday from President Donald Trump. Hunter was weeks away from beginning an 11-month prison sentence.

According to a statement from the White House, the pardon was issued "at the request of many members of Congress" and was supported by Bradley Smith, former Federal Election Commission chairman

The White House statement cites Smith as saying the case against Hunter "could have been handled as a civil case via the Federal Election Commission."

The White House also cited Hunter's military service in announcing the pardon, noting that Hunter "has dedicated much of his adult life to public service" and was inspired to enlist in the Marines following the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, serving combat duty in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Hunter, a Republican who represented California's 50th congressional district from 2013 to January 2020, pleaded guilty last year to a conspiracy charge and admitted to spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funds on family vacations, restaurant and bar tabs, clothes and other frivolous expenses over the course of several years. He told his staff that the purchases were campaign-related.

Hunter, along with his wife and former campaign manager, Margaret, were charged in 2018 in a 60-count indictment. She also pleaded guilty last year to misusing campaign funds and was sentenced in August to eight months of home confinement and three years probation. Trump did not pardon her.

It was also alleged that Hunter used campaign funds to pursue extramarital affairs and repeatedly used campaign credit cards or sought reimbursement for expenses that included resort hotel rooms, airfare, a skiing trip and Uber rides to and from the homes of five women with whom he had "intimate relationships."

He also gave his wife a campaign credit card despite her having no official role in the campaign, until he later hired her as campaign manager amid protests from members of his staff, according to the prosecution's court filings.

Despite the charges, Hunter was re-elected in November 2018. He resigned from Congress in January.

Hunter was originally ordered to surrender to authorities on May 29 of this year, but the COVID-19 pandemic delayed his sentence. He was expected to report to prison in January.

Also see: Duncan Hunter Sentenced To Prison For Misusing Campaign Funds

The 50th District encompasses most of east San Diego County and a portion of Riverside County.

A Republican has held the seat since 1981. The seat was represented by Hunter's father, Duncan L. Hunter, from 1981-2009.

Republican Darrell Issa is the representative-elect for the 50th District.

City News Service and Patch editor Kristina Houck contributed to this report.