Duncan Hunter's wife agrees to cooperate with prosecutors and pleads guilty to abusing campaign funds

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The two hunters had previously pleaded not guilty to federal charges for stealing a quarter of a million dollars in campaign funds to enable them to lead their lavish lives.

Margaret Hunter appeared alone with her lawyers in federal court in San Diego before Judge Thomas Whelan, where she changed her plea in this high-profile case. The congressman did not show up with his wife on Thursday.

She acknowledged that she was a member of the conspiracy. As part of this plot, she and her husband spent more than $ 10,000 on family holidays in Italy with the campaign's credit card, knowing that it was well beyond the family's budget. Duncan Hunter attempted to arrange a day visit to a naval base in Italy to justify his move.

By pleading guilty, she acknowledges that, overall, they spent more than $ 200,000 in campaign funds for their personal use.

An advocacy agreement regarding Margaret Hunter released by the government announced that she "would make a good faith effort to provide substantial assistance to the United States in connection with the investigation and prosecution of third parties" .

After Thursday's hearing, Hunter's attorney, Thomas McNamara, read a brief statement on his behalf.

In pleading guilty, she stated in her statement: "I have fully accepted responsibility for my conduct.I am deeply moved and I apologize.I am saddened for the harm that I have caused to my family and other people I understand that there will be more consequences from my actions, but as I demonstrated this morning with the argument, I took the first step to to deal with these consequences. "

McNamara said Hunter would not talk anymore. When asked if Hunter would testify against her husband, his lawyer stated that he was not going to answer questions.

She should be sentenced on September 16 and incurring a maximum sentence of five years imprisonment.

In a statement Thursday, Duncan Hunter claimed that he and his wife were targeted by the Ministry of Justice for political reasons.

"As Margaret's case ends, she should be left alone," he said. "I am the congressman, that is my campaign and any extra attention on this issue should be directed only to me."

The indictment against Hunter and his wife arrived last August, a few months before his reelection campaign. At the time, he denied the wrongdoing and transferred the responsibility of his wife, who he said was also his campaign manager.

Duncan Hunter said the charges were erroneously reported and the reports of the Federal Election Commission showed that he had repaid tens of thousands of dollars on his campaign account.

A former naval member who has made combat tours in Iraq and son of former California GOP representative Duncan L. Hunter, the congressman has been subject to controversy throughout his career.

He also agreed to resign from the congressional committee and was re-elected after running an anti-Muslim campaign against his Democratic opponent.
He once again made headlines for stirring up a separate controversy with his energetic defense of Edward "Eddie" Gallagher, a Navy SEAL accused of war crimes and whom President Donald Trump would have considered granting. the clemency.
In his Gallagher defenses, Hunter said he posed for a picture with a dead enemy fighter. He later said that as an artillery officer, his unit "probably killed hundreds of civilians."

Kate Sullivan from CNN contributed to this report.

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