Congressional Watchdog Finds 'Substantial' Evidence Duncan Hunter Used Campaign Funds For Personal Purposes

The House of Representatives' ethics watchdog, the Office of Congressional Ethics, reported Monday Rep. Duncan Hunter used campaign funds for personal purposes.

Hunter, R-Calif., pleaded guilty to charges of misusing campaign funds last week, following a monthslong federal investigation that had snared both him and his wife. The House responded by advising Hunter he should no longer participate in floor votes.

The congressman announced on Friday he would resign by the end of the year. This particular seat has been in the Hunter family for more than three decades, with his father preceeding him.

The ethics report offers additional details about the extent to which Hunter deployed campaign funds to finance his personal expenses. The report notes the ethics office found "pervasive evidence of campaign-funded expenditures for family travel, flights, utilities, healthcare, school uniforms and tuition, jewelry, groceries, gas, and other goods, services and expenses not attributable to bona fide campaign or political purposes." It concludes that based "on the foregoing information, the board finds that there is substantial reason to believe that Representative Hunter converted campaign funds to personal use to pay expenses that were not legitimate and verifiable campaign expenditures attributable to bona fide campaign or political purposes."

Hunter faces up to five years in prison and is scheduled to be sentenced March 17. Although Hunter's wife pleaded guilty during the summer, he had resisted doing the same until recently.

"I think it's important not to have a public trial for three reasons, and those three reasons are my kids," Hunter told California television station KUSI, citing the toll a public trial would take on his family. "It's hard enough being the kids of a public figure. I think it's time for them to live life outside the spotlight. But it's been a privilege to serve in Congress for 11 years."