‘Leave my wife out of it,’ embattled Rep. Duncan Hunter says on corruption charges

Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Alpine) and his wife Margaret were charged a week ago on 60 counts in a federal indictment alleging they improperly spent some $250,000 in campaign contributions on lavish vacations, meals and personal items.

Hunter insists the corruption charges are politically motivated and meant to undermine his reelection campaign — and now is urging the media to leave his wife out of the matter.

On Thursday, Hunter said of his wife to a Fox News reporter: “She handled my finances throughout my entire military career and that continued on when I got into Congress .... She was also the campaign manager. Whatever she did, that’ll be looked at too, I’m sure, but I didn’t do it.� He added, “I didn’t spend any money illegally.�

But on Tuesday, after Hunter’s apparent attempt to blame his wife became an internet meme, he told KGTV News in San Diego: “Leave my wife out of it, leave my family out of it. It’s me they’re after, anyway. They’re not after my wife; they want to take me down, that’s what they’re up to. So let’s get this in the arena and have this settled.�

Both Hunter and his wife pleaded not guilty to the charges in federal court last week, but in an appearance with Fox News’ Martha MacCallum, the five-term congressman said his “campaign made mistakes� and that his wife had power of attorney and oversaw family expenses as well as campaign funds.

“You also said yesterday that your wife handled a lot of the family expenses and campaign finances, so are you saying that it’s more her fault than your fault?� MacCallum asked Hunter.

That’s when Hunter explained that his wife handled his finances while he was in the military and later in Congress.

Gomez writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune.