Hunter rips ‘new’ DOJ: ‘We’re excited about going to trial’

California Rep. Duncan Hunter (R) says that he and his wife are “excited” to go to trial to prove their innocence, accusing the Justice Department of carrying out a “political agenda” in an interview.

Hunter told local California ABC affiliate 10News that the Justice Department, which is led by Attorney General Jeff Sessions, constitutes the “Democrats’ arm of law enforcement.” 

{mosads}He and his wife are accused of using campaign contributions for personal expenses totaling as much as $250,000.

“We’re excited about going to trial with this, frankly,” Hunter said. “This is modern politics and modern media mixed in with law enforcement that has a political agenda. That’s the new Department of Justice.”

“This is the Democrats’ arm of law enforcement, that’s what’s happening right now,” Hunter continued. “It’s happening with [President] Trump, it’s happening with me. We’re going to fight through it and win.”

“Let them expose themselves for what they are: a politically motivated group of folks,” he added. “I’m not worried. I’m looking forward to it.”

Hunter and his wife are expected to be arraigned in court Thursday on the charges, which have already led to House Republican leaders dropping Hunter from several House committees.

“The Ethics Committee deferred its investigation at the request of the Justice Department. Now that he has been indicted, Rep. Hunter will be removed from his committee assignments pending the resolution of this matter,” Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) said, adding that the charges were “deeply serious.”

Hunter’s remarks Wednesday are his first public remarks on the issue. A spokesman initially referred to the charges as “politically motivated” in a statement to The Hill on Tuesday.