GOP Rep To Pay Back Nearly $50K In Campaign Cash For Personal Expenses

Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA) announced he will pay back nearly $50,000 in campaign funds after it came to light that he spent the money on personal expenses.

According to the San Diego Union-Tribune, Hunter announced he would repay the money Thursday after spending campaign cash on trips to Jack in the Box, Albertsons, his energy bills, hotels, restaurants, his children’s private school lunches, and more.

In a statement to the Press-Enterprise, Hunter said that he was acting out of “an abundance of caution.”

“The financial review has revealed additional unauthorized expenditures that I will be reimbursing to the campaign today,” Hunter said, according to the Press-Enterprise. “And I decided, out of an abundance of caution, to treat any expense without adequate support as necessary for reimbursement.”

It was unclear exactly what items he would be reimbursing, but the Union-Tribune highlighted some of the personal expenses they had recorded.

106 fill-ups at gas stations, totaling $5,660

16 trips to Jack in the Box totaling $297.

Forty trips to Albertson’s, Trader Joe’s or another grocery store, spending $6,819 total.

An expense for $229 at a Disneyland gift shop for “food/beverages.” A spokesman for the park told the Union-Tribune the only edible items the store sells are Pez candy and a Star Wars-themed Rice Krispy treat.

Utilities — $1,269 for San Diego Gas & Electric and $300 to the Padre Dam Municipal Water District.

In April, after an FEC inquiry, Hunter repaid his campaign for a trip to a surf shop, oral surgery, video games and a garage door company. It’s against the rules to use the campaign money on personal expenditures.