Republican Congressman Duncan D. Hunter stepped down today as chairman of the House of Representatives' Coast Guard and Maritime Subcommittee amid corruption charges against the five-term incumbent and his wife.
They were indicted by a federal grand jury this week for misusing $250,000 of campaign funds on personal items. They denied the allegations and pleaded not guilty Thursday.
The California Congressman said his wife Margaret managed his finances, seemingly placing the blame on her shoulders.
"She was also the campaign manager, so whatever she did that'll be looked at too, I'm sure," Hunter said on Fox News.
"But I didn't do it. I didn't spend any money illegally."
The couple is charged in a 60-count indictment with conspiracy to commit wire fraud, falsification of records, bank fraud and aiding and abetting in the prohibited use of campaign contributions, news reports said.
The indictment details some 200 instances of personal expenses using campaign funds, the San Diego Union Tribune reported. The $250,000 went toward everything from airfare for a pet rabbit to family vacations to private school tuitions, the indictment states.
The couple is also accused of lying to cover up spending and drawing from campaign coffers despite warnings from staffers and investigator and reporter inquiries.
Hunter is paid $174,000 a year as a member of Congress, while Margaret Hunter receives $3,000 a month as her husband’s campaign manager.
