SAN DIEGO - Rep. Duncan Hunter began living with a woman other than his wife early in his first term in the U.S. House of Representatives, prosecutors say in a court filing that outlines a series of personal intimate relationships he allegedly began with three lobbyists and two congressional staffers during his elected service, the San Diego Union Tribune reported Tuesday.

One of the women Hunter is alleged to have taken up with was on his own staff; another worked in the office of a member of the House of Representatives leadership, new court records state.

In a sweeping series of court filings this week, the U.S. Attorney’s Office in San Diego accuses the six-term Republican of engaging in a litany of extramarital affairs and paying for some of them with campaign funds while serving in Congress.

Prosecutors outlined the behavior in a filing aimed at convincing the judge that the spending was not for campaign purposes, one of the presumed arguments that may be put forward by Hunter’s criminal defense attorney.
Hunter and his wife of 21 years, Margaret, were co-indicted in August on 60 counts of misusing campaign funds and lying to cover up their crimes.

Margaret Hunter pleaded guilty two weeks ago to a single count of conspiracy and agreed to testify against her husband. She faces up to five years in prison when she is sentenced later this year but is expected to receive a significantly reduced sentence in exchange for her cooperation.

The congressman has denied all charges and said the case is politically motivated. Monday he sought to have the charges tossed or at least have some prosecutors removed from the case.

Hunter represents East San Diego County and Temecula in Riverside County.

His trial is scheduled for September.

Story Date: July 9, 2019