Report: Hunter Used Campaign Funds to Fly Family Rabbit
Comes after son used campaign credit card for playing video games
Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., used $600 in campaign money to fly a family rabbit, an ongoing review of his expenses revealed.
The news comes as Hunter faces a larger review by the Office of Congressional Ethics for campaign expenses.
Hunter has since reimbursed his campaign $62,000 for expenses that were either personal or lacked proper documentation such as video games, oral surgery, a resort stay and a jewelry purchase in Italy, the San Diego Union-Tribune reported.
Hunter spokesperson Joe Kasper said many of the expenses have been misrepresented and used the rabbit as an example.
“Since travel is often done on (airline) miles — which is entirely permissible — the credit card connected to the account was charged several times even when his children were flying,” he said.
House Republicans tried on Monday to weaken the OCE before publicly backing down amid criticism, including from President-elect Donald Trump, who tweeted that while the OCE might be unfair, changing it should not be a top priority.
Last year, it was revealed that Hunter’s son used the congressman’s campaign credit card to play on the internet gaming platform Steam.
“There aren’t enough lawns in Southern California for his son to mow to make up for this,” Kasper said at the time.