Lawyers for Rep. Duncan Hunter ask court to exclude evidence he had FIVE alleged extramarital affairs from his trial for campaign finance violations
- Attorneys for the Republican rep are calling for extramarital affair claims to be excluded from his trial, claiming they would have a ‘prejudicial impact’ on jurors
- Hunter is charged with a slew campaign finance violations and prosecutors allege the affairs are supporting evidence of his use of the funds for personal use
- On Monday, prosecutors detailed five alleged affairs that Hunter had with congressional staffers and lobbyists which they want included as evidence
- Hunters defense argue that allowing the alleged affairs to be put forward at trial would impact juror perception and would have a ‘prejudicial impact’
Attorneys for embattled Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter, who has been indicted for campaign finance violations, have asked the court to exclude claims he misused campaign funds during alleged extramarital affairs, claiming his relationships ‘served an overtly political purpose.’
‘The allegations in the Motion are so controversial and prejudicial that merely filing the Motion has tainted the jury pool against Mr. Hunter based on the salacious allegations,’ Hunter’s attorneys wrote Friday.
Hunter is charged with a slew campaign finance violations and prosecutors allege the affairs are supporting evidence of his use of the funds for personal and not professional gain.
Affairs: Hunter is charged with a slew campaign finance violations and prosecutors allege the affairs are supporting evidence of his use of the funds for personal and not professional gain
On Monday, prosecutors detailed five alleged affairs that Hunter had with congressional staffers and lobbyists as they sought to secure court approval to submit the evidence at trial in September.
Hunters defense argue that allowing the alleged affairs to be put forward at trial would impact juror perception and would have a ‘prejudicial impact’.
Adding that the congressman’s relationships with the five women ‘served an overtly political purpose,’ and therefore should not be a part of the campaign finance violation trial.
‘However unpopular the notion of a married man mixing business with pleasure, the Government cannot simply dismiss the reality that Mr. Hunter’s relationships with Individual’s 14-18 often served an overtly political purpose that would not have existed irrespective of his occupation,’ Hunter’s attorneys wrote.
Margaret Hunter pleaded guilty in June to conspiring with her husband to ‘knowingly and willingly’ convert more than $200,000 in campaign funds for personal use
Both sides will return to court on Monday.
He accused prosecutors of political bias when asked by Politico reporters.
‘You have criminally political prosecutors in this case on a personal smear campaign,’ he told Politico. ‘This is the most political case in the world.’
Hunter and his wife, Margaret, were indicted in 2018. The pair are accused of consistent misuse of campaign funds for personal expenses, bills and luxury family vacations.
Hunter agreed to step down from his congressional committee assignments, though he later went on to win reelection.
Hunter and his wife, Margaret, were indicted in 2018. The pair are accused of consistent misuse of campaign funds for personal expenses, bills and luxury family vacations
Margaret Hunter pleaded guilty in June to conspiring with her husband to ‘knowingly and willingly’ convert more than $200,000 in campaign funds for personal use.
She has agreed to cooperate with prosecutors and faces a maximum of five years in jail when she is sentenced on September 16.
Prosecutors said Monday that Margaret Hunter may testify at the trial about her and her husband’s allegedly illegal spending.