California’s 50th District Rep. Duncan Hunter, Jr., 41, was indicted on Tuesday on corruption charges, as his Democratic opponent Ammar Campa-Najjar (pictured) denounced his violent grandfather’s involvement in the Palestinian Black September terror group that killed 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich
The Democrat who came in second in his top-two primary, winning the change to run against the five-time Republic incumbent representative for California’s 50th District is gaining support, following the formal charging of his opponent.
Rep. Duncan Hunter, Jr., age 41, was indicted on Tuesday on corruption charges that included allegations of misuse of campaign funds. His wife, Margarat, was also charged.
Meanwhile, relative political newcomer Ammar Campa-Najjar disavowed his Palestinian militant grandfather this week, who was a member of the Palestinian Black September terror group that killed 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich.
Campa-Najjar said the topic of violent crimes committed by Muhammad Yusuf al-Najjar didn’t bother him, with regard to his campaign, especially in light of the charges Rep. Hunter is now facing.
‘I’m not concerned, but I think it shows Hunter is concerned,’ Campa-Najjar told Fox News, discussing the actions of a relative he has never met.
‘My opponents have to go back three generations to attack me. I can go back three days to highlight something pretty damning about him.’
The Hunters pleaded not guilty to the charges entered against them on Thursday.
Rep. Duncan Hunter, Jr., 41 (pictured), and his wife are accused of using more than $250,000 in campaign funds for personal use; They both pleaded not guilty to the charges on Thursday
They’re accused of using more than $250,000 in campaign funds to pay for lavish personal expenses, among other things.
Rep. Hunter appeared to be distancing himself from any actions his wife and campaign manager might have taken, during an interview with Fox News’ Martha MacCallum on Thursday.
‘She was also the campaign manager, so whatever she did that’ll be looked at too, I’m sure,’ he said. ‘But I didn’t do it. I didn’t spend any money illegally.’
Campa-Najjar, who held a US Labor Department position under Obama, entered politics when he worked on the former president’s re-election campaign in 2012.
Rep. Hunter appeared to be distancing himself from any actions his wife, Margert, and campaign manager might have taken, during an interview with Fox News’ Martha MacCallum on Thursday; The two are pictured here at the finish line of the Rock ‘n’ Roll Marathon on June 3, 2012 in San Diego
Rep. Hunter is the five-time Republic incumbent representative for California’s 50th District
The subject of Campa-Najjar’s grandfather was first brought up in February by an Israeli news outlet which noted that the current candidate advocated non-violent responses to conflict in the Middle East, unlile his murderous grandfather.
His grandfather, who was also known as Abu Youssef, was put to death by Israeli commandos in 1973, which was 16 years before the Democratic candidate was born in 1989.
In a statement issued this week showing unequivocal disdain for the actions of his relative, who he never met, Campa-Najjar said:
‘I think other men are responsible for their own crimes, whether it’s somebody who I share a lineage with and nothing else, or a sitting congressman whose being indicted and could be facing serious charges in the future.’
Campa-Najjar denounced the involvement of his grandfather, Muhammad Yusuf al-Najjar, also known as Abu Youssef (pictured) in the Palestinian Black September terror group that killed 11 Israeli athletes at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich; Yusuf al-Najjar was put to death by Israeli commandos in 1973, which was 16 years before Campa-Najjar was born
California’s 50th Congressional District includes much of San Diego County and portions of Riverside County
‘I’m happy to take responsibility for my own choices and my own decisions,’ he added.
Campa-Najjar is the son of a Mexican American mother and a Middle Eastern immigrant father, and was raised in San Diego.
He earned 17.6 percent of the vote in his district’s ‘jungle primary’ on June 5, according toBallotpedia.
In such a primary, the top two vote earners, regardless of party, go on to compete against each other for the elected office in the general election.
Rep. Hunter handedly won at the time, securing 47.4 percent of the vote, but that was before his indictment.
Hunter is from Alpine, California, and served as a Major in the United States Marine Corps.
Constituents of California’s 50th Congressional District can cast their ballot for their candidate of choice in the general election, being held on November 6.
The Southern California district includes much of San Diego County and portions of Riverside County.
Constituents of California’s 50th Congressional District can cast their ballot for their candidate of choice in the general election, being held on November 6