GOP officially sticks with congressman indicted for stealing campaign cash

Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) is facing 60 criminal charges for stealing a quarter of a million dollars in campaign funds. But that’s no reason for the Republican Party to stop supporting him.

National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) chairman Rep. Steve Stivers (R-OH) says that his organization, the Republican Party’s official congressional re-election organ, will continue to support Hunter, according to The Hill.

Hunter stands accused of stealing campaign money to fund personal luxuries, including a family trip to SeaWorld, a shopping spree at Disneyland, 30 shots of tequila and a steak at a bachelor party, a pair of shorts that were passed off as golf balls to be donated to wounded warriors, and a plane ticket for the family’s pet rabbit, among other things.

After his indictment, Hunter tried to blame his wife for his own misconduct, telling Fox News, “I’m gone five days a week, I’m home for two, and she was the campaign manager… So whatever she did on that, that will be looked at, too, I’m sure. But I didn’t do it.”

Hunter rediscovered his chivalry a week later, asking that his wife be left out of it, and shifting the blame to “leftists” at the Justice Department.

This week, Trump weighed in on Hunter’s crimes, not to denounce them, but to complain that the Justice Department should have ignored them in order to win a congressional race.

“Two long running, Obama era, investigations of two very popular Republican Congressmen were brought to a well publicized charge, just ahead of the Mid-Terms, by the Jeff Sessions Justice Department,” Trump wrote on Monday. “Two easy wins now in doubt because there is not enough time. Good job Jeff[.]”

The two investigations Trump referenced were of Hunter, and of Rep. Chris Collins, who was indicted on charges of insider trading.

The GOP’s continued support of an indicted criminal is morally repugnant, but perfectly in keeping with the “leadership” that Trump is providing.

Published with permission of The American Independent Foundation.