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The office of Congressman Duncan Hunter's campaign treasurer was searched by the FBI back in February according to a new report from the LA Times. Agents reportedly seized computer equipment and documents relating to their investigation into whether the San Diego Republican inappropriately used campaign funds.
The search warrant, unsealed in March, shows that agents were looking for information from Election CFO - the agency Hunter hired to help his campaign comply with campaign finance rules. Agents were searching for evidence that showed if funds donated to Hunter's campaign were used for personal expenses or if there was an attempt to defraud a bank over video game purchases and whether the finance reports filed by Hunter's campaign were falsified to 'impede or influence' FBI and House Ethics Committees.
Hunter first came to the attention of federal election officials after a story published in the San Diego Union-Tribune revealed more than $1,300 dollars were spent on video game purchases. Hunter blamed the purchases on his son using the wrong credit card.
However, other items on Hunter's disclosure forms like an airplane ride for the family rabbit, payments to nail salons and even tuition for his children's private school raised eyebrows. Hunter insisted in an interview with Politico in March that he had done nothing wrong, but refused to identify the person responsible for the campaign expenses.
Hunter is one of nine Republicans targets by Democrats for 2018. Republican challenger Andrew Zelt posted on Twitter that it was time to bring "integrity back to the 50th District."