Congressman blames $1,300 in video game charges on billing dispute

by Mario Trujillo - 04/06/16 1:03 PM ET

More than $1,300 in video game purchases logged on Rep. Duncan Hunter’s campaign expense report are being blamed on a billing dispute.

{mosads}Earlier this week, the Federal Election Commission sent a letter to the California Republican asking his campaign to explain the numerous payments made to an online video game distribution company, Steam Games. In the congressman’s 2015 campaign report, the dozens of charges are listed as a “personal expense – to be paid back.”

Hunter’s chief of staff, Joe Kasper, said Hunter’s son mistakenly used his father’s campaign credit card to make small payments to Steam Games. After realizing the mistake, Hunter tried to close the account and vowed to pay back those charges. However, dozens of additional unauthorized charges showed up in the two months after the congressman tried to close the account.

Kasper said the congressman listed the items on his campaign account while he disputes the charges with his credit card company.

The congressman had not planned on paying back the charges until the matter was resolved, but Kasper said the congressman might just end up reimbursing the campaign “to avoid the headache.”

“The idea that he was buying video games on the campaign knowing that he shouldn’t and he was hoping to pull a fast one on the FEC is absurd,” Kasper told The Hill.

The San Diego Union-Tribune first reported the news.

The FEC told Hunter’s campaign to respond by next month to clear up the charges. The letter also references a $1,650 payment to “Christian Unified Schools” that is also marked as a “personal expense – to be paid back.”

The FEC said that the personal use of campaign funds can result in legal action. But it added, “prompt action to obtain reimbursement of the funds in question will be taken into consideration.”