Duncan Hunter and wife plead not guilty to campaign finance violation charges

Embattled GOP Rep. Duncan Hunter (Calif.) and his wife, Margaret Hunter, were arraigned on Thursday morning in California after being indicted earlier this week for allegedly misusing $250,000 in campaign funds.

Both Hunters pleaded not guilty to the 60 counts against them.

The California Republican’s bail was set at $15,000, while his wife’s was set at $10,000. Duncan Hunter was also ordered to relinquish his guns by Monday, ABC 10 News reported.

Hunter’s next hearing is scheduled for Sept. 4.

Hunter was greeted by a handful of protestors as he entered the federal court in San Diego, including a group that chanted “lock him up.”

Congressman Duncan Hunter shows up to court for arraignment. I haven’t spotted wife yet @10News pic.twitter.com/i0GW7sGWNz

— Mimi Elkalla (@10NewsMimi) August 23, 2018

Rep. Hunter met by protestors as he walked into courthouse @10News pic.twitter.com/HytKmhIlfa

— Mimi Elkalla (@10NewsMimi) August 23, 2018

{mosads}

The Hunters are being accused of falsifying campaign finance reports and using funds to purchase trips to Italy and Hawaii, pay for his family’s dental work, his children’s tuition and international travel for nearly a dozen relatives. Thousands of dollars were also allegedly spent on “fast food, movie tickets, golf outings, video games, coffee, groceries, home utilities, and expensive meals,” according to the Justice Department.

Hunter — one of President Trump’s earliest supporters in Congress — maintains his innocence, arguing he is a victim of a politically motivated “witch hunt.”

“For over two years, I have made myself available to cooperate with this investigation in any manner. To date, I have not been asked one time to answer any questions or address any issue. I have not had one opportunity to present my side of anything in this investigation or to counter any allegations against me,” Hunter said in a statement Wednesday.

“All the while, there has been a constant barrage of misinformation and salacious headlines in our media regarding this matter. I purposely choose to remain silent, not to feed into this witch-hunt and trust the process.”

Hunter’s legal team questioned the timing of the indictment, noting his name cannot be taken off the ballot in the November midterm elections.

Shortly after Tuesday’s indictment was released, Cook Political Report, a nonpartisan election handicapper, shifted his seat’s rating from safe to competitive.