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East County News Service
"The real question — how could he have acknowledged the errors in his campaign disclosures, but not immediately rectified them by paying back the money, thus in essence going several months without addressing violations of the law?" -- Eric Anderson, San Diego Republican Central Committee member
“This adolescent behavior is unbecoming for a member of the House of Representatives,” – Patrick Malloy, Democratic candidate for the 50th Congressional seat
April 12, 2016 (San Diego’s East County) – The Federal Elections Commission (FEC) is investigating a series of campaign expenditures claimed by Republican Congressman Duncan D. Hunter that appear to violate federal campaign laws.
Hunter used campaign funds to pay for video games on 68 separate occasions, totaling over $1,302. He also claimed $1,650 in tuition paid to a private Christian school for his son’s education.
The House Ethics Committee’s website makes clear: “Campaign funds are to be used for bona fide campaign or political purposes only. Campaign funds are not to be used to enhance a member’s lifestyle, or to pay a member’s personal obligations... Members have no discretion whatsoever to convert campaign funds to personal use.”
The video game deduction included the notation “personal expense—to be paid back,” but to date, no payback has been confirmed by the FEC.
Hunter’s representative, Joe Kasper, recently told media that some unauthorized charges on his credit card were in dispute. But Hunter today said he has pay back the debt in full to resolve the issue, the San Diego Union-Tribune reports, months after the first questionable expenditures surfaced.
Hunter's actions have drawn criticism from both conservatives and liberals.
Eric Andersen, a San Diego County Republican Central Committee, posted on San Diego Rostra, "I already understand Hunter says the campaign credit card was used in error. That’s not an adequate explanation, not even close. The real question — how could he have acknowledged the errors in his campaign disclosures, but not immediately rectified them by paying back the money, thus in essence going several months without addressing violations of 
the law? The families in the 50th district deserve a better explanation for how this could have happened."
Patrick Malloy, a Democrat challenging Hunter in the upcoming election, calls Hunter’s excuses “the equivalent of saying `the dog ate my homework.’” He says this is the latest among embarrassments caused by the 50th Congressional district representative, who recently endorsed Donald Trump and smoked an e-cigarette during a Congressional hearing in support of a measure to allow vaping on airplanes.
“This adolescent behavior is unbecoming for a member of the House of Representatives,” says Malloy, a realtor and small business owner in Escondido.
The video games included some violent games and titles such as “Axes and Acres,” “Killing Floor 2” and Party Hard.”
The latter carries added irony, since in 2014 Washingtonian’s “Best and Worst” list named Hunter the number one “party animal” in Congress.
Malloy, who has been endorsed by the Democratic Party and Democratic members of San Diego’s Congressional delegation, also faults Hunter for calling for deep cuts to Social Security and Medicare, backing tax cuts for the wealthy, and his belief that it is not the national government’s responsibility to stimulate jobs.
Malloy’s campaign theme is “reigniting the American dream.” That includes supporting Social Security and Medicare, improved veterans care, reduction in student debt and free tuition for vocational education students.
“This is my vision for a revitalized economy,” he states in an editorial in the Escondido Grapevine. “We need to sound a wakeup call to reinvest in American infrastructure, reinforce technology and channel agricultural innovation to create a strong base for new jobs. In other words, we need to rebuild the middle class.”
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