CA. Rep. Darrell Issa to retire after the end of his term

3 hours ago

California Rep. Darrell Issa to retire after the end of his term

By Alex Pappas | Fox News

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Rep. Darrell Issa is retiring. (Reuters)


California Rep. Darrell Issa, the Republican who investigated some of the biggest scandals of the Obama presidency, is retiring from Congress, he announced Wednesday.

“Throughout my service, I worked hard and never lost sight of the people our government is supposed to serve,” Issa said in a statement. “Yet with the support of my family, I have decided that I will not seek re-election in California's 49th District.”

Issa, 64, served as chairman of House Oversight Committee from 2011 to 2015, where he led hearings into the IRS scandal, the attack in Benghazi and the Fast and Furious operation. In that role, he famously tangled with Democratic Rep. Elijah Cummings, the top Democrat on the panel, and former IRS official Lois Lerner and was a familiar presence on television.

A former businessman, Issa was first elected to Congress in 2001. But he was facing an uphill battle in his re-election after defeating his Democratic challenger by less than a percentage point in 2016.

Democrats are eyeing the seat as a potential pickup opportunity in the midterm elections later this year.

Issa’s retirement follows a slew of other well-known Republican lawmakers stepping down for Congress, with House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce announcing his retirement earlier this week.

Other Republicans who aren’t running for re-election include Pennsylvania Rep. Bill Shuster, the chairman of the House Transportation Committee; Texas Rep. Joe Barton, the former chairman of the House Committee on Energy and Commerce committee; Texas Rep. Jeb Hensarling, chairman of the House Financial Services Committee and Virginia Rep. Bob Goodlatte, the chairman of the House Judiciary Committee.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018...-his-term.html

Darrell Issa said to be considering run for another House seat – just not his

By Judson Berger | Fox News

Rep. Darrell Issa announces he will not seek re-election

California Republican who was first elected in 2000 says he will 'continue advocating on behalf of the causes that are most important to me.'

Powerful GOP lawmaker Darrell Issa dropped a bomb this week when he said he would not defend his House seat in November, but the California congressman may yet wind up on the midterm ballot.

The nine-term representative of California’s 49th District, who barely survived a bruising 2016 contest, is said to be weighing the possibility of running this fall in a nearby district – if the current incumbent, fellow Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter, resigns.

“It’s not implausible, really … for him to potentially be a candidate in that district,” a source familiar with the Issa team's thinking told Fox News, confirming the discussions. “Darrell’s obviously well known.”

The Hill first reported on the internal discussions, quoting multiple sources.

'It’s unorthodox certainly.'
- Source, on Rep. Darrell Issa considering running in another district

The stunning development, at first blush, appears to fly in the face of the multiple announcements Wednesday out of Capitol Hill – where the former House oversight committee chairman seemed to join the ever-growing list of senior Republicans calling it quits at the end of their current term.

Issa said in a written statement that “with the support of my family, I have decided that I will not seek re-election in California's 49th District.”

He later said on Fox News’ “Special Report with Bret Baier” that “it's a good time to go out on top,” given the state of the economy.
But Issa’s statement, as noted by The Hill, repeatedly made specific reference to leaving the 49th District – not necessarily Congress.

“While my service to California's 49th District will be coming to an end, I will continue advocating on behalf of the causes that are most important to me,” he said.

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Rep. Duncan Hunter says he has no plans to resign.


Issa used to represent parts of Hunter’s neighboring 50th District.

And Hunter is facing various ethics investigations amid allegations he improperly used campaign funds for personal expenses.
In a written statement, however, Hunter told Fox News he absolutely is running for re-election.

"I am 100% running for reelection and with continued support from those in my district and the full endorsement of the Republican Party of San Diego County. I have run every race with full effort because my constituents deserve no less and this time is no different,” Hunter said.

He also told The Hill he has no plans to resign but said of Issa, “If I was to blow up in the air, then he would be running for it.”

Issa's office did not respond to a request for comment.

Issa narrowly won re-election in 2016, making him a clear target in 2018 for Democrats hoping to seize control of the House. Hunter’s 50th District could be friendlier territory.

The source told Fox News that whether Issa indeed takes the plunge and runs in the neighboring district depends on several factors, including Hunter’s situation and the willingness of the party brass to support an alternative like Issa.

“It’s unorthodox certainly,” the source said.

But the National Republican Congressional Committee – House Republicans’ campaign arm – so far is treating Issa’s decision as an exit from Congress. While Issa did not use the word “retirement” in his Wednesday press release, the NRCC did.

“His retirement is a great loss for the institution and the American people. We are truly grateful for his service," NRCC Chairman Steve Stivers said in a statement.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018...t-not-his.html

Wow.

I strongly support Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter! He's much stronger than Rep. Darrell Issa on the illegal immigrant and border security issues. Rep. Hunter is much like his father, who I supported for President of the United States back when he ran. Issa needs to keep his hands off Hunter's district.

Hunter might not be available to serve in congress.


Grand jury subpoena issued in Rep. Duncan Hunter criminal investigation

The San Diego Union-Tribune - By By Morgan Cook The San Diego Union-Tribune
January 10, 2018 11:46pm

• https://da4pli3l5vc0d.cloudfront.net...ba7095250d4d73

Jan. 10-- SAN DIEGO-A federal grand jury is slated to hear evidence this month regarding certain transactions in Rep. Duncan Hunter's campaign treasury, which has been under scrutiny since the spring of 2016 as a result of frequent personal expenditures.

A subpoena dated Dec. 21 was issued by the U.S. District Court in San Diego to a business in Hunter's congressional district. The subpoena commanded the witness to appear before a grand jury in downtown San Diego later this month.

The San Diego Union-Tribune is withholding the name of the witness listed on the document, which was obtained from a third party. Federal Election Commission records show Hunter's campaign spent thousands of dollars at the business in 2012 and 2014.

The subpoena orders the business to "provide any and all documents, to include itemized and signed receipts, event contracts, reservation/booking details, name(s) of guest(s) ... guest folios, photographs, social media postings and any form of communication associated with" six specific transactions in 2012.

Two of the transactions were attributed to Hunter, another two to his wife and former campaign manager, Margaret, and two to Bruce Young, the campaign's treasurer in 2012.

Investigators indicated that the business should produce records relating to those transactions dating back to Jan. 1, 2009.

The transactions are not among those that have come under scrutiny by the FEC and, subsequently, the Union-Tribune, which first raised questions about Hunter's campaign spending in April 2016. Use of campaign contributions for personal benefit is forbidden by federal law to protect against undue influence by donors.

http://wowway.net/news/read/category...unter_cr-tca-2

Poll In The 49th District Suggests Front Runners Have Changed

Friday, June 1, 2018
By Alison St John

https://kpbs.media.clients.ellington...1d859a8f88077d

PHOTO BY KPBS STAFF

Above: A map of the 49th Congressional District is shown in this graphic.

A new Democratic poll on the 49th congressional race to replace Republican Darrell Issa suggests the dynamics of the race have changed, as the campaigns spend millions of dollars to gain name recognition.
The telephone poll of 500 likely voters in late May shows Democrat Mike Levin taking the lead in a crowded field of 16 candidates vying to replace Issa.

Levin is closely followed by Republican Diane Harkey. Both are from Orange County.

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PHOTO CREDIT: MIKE LEVIN CAMPAIGN

Democrat Mike Levin, a candidate in the 49th congressional district race in an undated photo.


Harkey, a former state Assemblywoman, was endorsed by the Republican Parties of both Orange and San Diego Counties.

The Democratic Party has not endorsed any one of their four candidates, though Levin, an environmental attorney, came the closest during votes at the party convention.
Till now, the two front-runners had been Democrat Doug Applegate and Republican Rocky Chavez, both of Oceanside. Both are former Marine Colonels in a district that includes Camp Pendleton. Applegate has good name recognition as the man who nearly defeated Issa in 2016, and Chavez has won supporters as a California Assemblyman. In this week’s poll, they are running third and fourth respectively, with Democrat Sara Jacobs tied with Chavez for fourth place.

https://kpbs.media.clients.ellington...63ad7b451e7676

PHOTO CREDIT: DIANE HARKEY CAMPAIGN

Republican Diane Harkey, a candidate in the 49th congressional district race in an undated photo.


Chavez has raised the least money among the leading candidates, but his moderate stance gave him an edge in a district of predominantly Republican registered voters who nevertheless supported Hilary Clinton in 2016. He departed from Republican policy when he supported California Governor Jerry Brown’s Cap and Trade legislation. The Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, calculating that Chavez would be harder for a Democratic candidate to beat in November, paid for TV ads attacking Chavez for approving Brown’s budget. This, plus Chavez's low campaign fundraising, may have contributed to his slide in the polls.
Renewed focus on evidence of Applegate’s difficult divorce and custody battle 2004 may have contributed to his lower ranking in this poll.
inewsource reports that Sara Jacobs benefitted the most from outside fundraising, with more than $2 million spent on her behalf by independent sources, including Emily’s List. Jacobs’ campaign also spent more than $2 million to raise her profile as potentially the youngest woman ever to be elected to Congress.
Democrat Paul Kerr, a real estate investor, has spent the most - more than $4 million - to raise his name recognition. But he's running a distant sixth in this poll, tied with Republican San Diego Supervisor Kristen Gaspar.

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2018/jun/01...-have-changed/

Poll shows Rep. Duncan Hunter walking away with the primary ...
www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/politics/sd-me-hunter-poll-20180521-story.html
May 22, 2018 - A new poll shows that despite an FBI investigation into misuse of campaign funds, Rep. Duncan Hunter is positioned to cruise through the primary. A new poll shows that despite an FBI investigation into potential misuse of campaign funds, Rep. Duncan Hunter is positioned to cruise ...

• BREAKING NEWS
• ​
  Rep. Duncan Hunter, wife indicted on corruption charges in California
  
  Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., and his wife, Margaret, were indicted on charges of illegally converting campaign funds for personal expenses and filing false records, prosecutors announced Tuesday.
• This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.
  More on this
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Rep. Duncan Hunter, wife indicted on corruption charges in California

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By Paulina Dedaj | Fox News




Rep. Duncan Hunter and wife indicted on corruption charges

U.S. prosecutors charge the California Republican congressman with converting hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funds and falsifying campaign finance records.




Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., and his wife, Margaret, were indicted on charges of illegally converting $250,000 in campaign funds for personal expenses and filing false records, prosecutors announced Tuesday.


Among the allegations named in the 48-page indictment included instances between 2009 and 2016 when Hunter and his wife used campaign funds to pay for family vacations to Italy and Hawaii, school tuition, dental work, and even domestic and international travel for almost a dozen relatives, according to a press release from the Southern District of California’s U.S. Attorney’s Office.


The indictment also alleged that the pair spent “tens of thousands of dollars” on items ranging from movie tickets, fast food, golf outings, groceries and home utilities.
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Hunter and his wife allegedly used campaign funds to pay for family vacations to Italy and Hawaii, school tuition, dental work, and even domestic and international travel for almost a dozen relatives. (Facebook)


Fox News obtained a letter sent on Aug. 6 from Hunter's attorney, Gregory A. Vega, to U.S. Deputy Attorney General Rod J. Rosenstein asking him to postpone the indictment.


Vega contended that there was a "rush to indict" after a two-year grand jury investigation.


Vega asserts the prosecution is "politically motivated" because of Hunter's early support for candidate Donald Trump. He also asserts bias by prosecutors in the Southern District of California who supported Hillary Clinton's candidacy.


The congressman's lawyers said in 2017 that Hunter and his wife repaid the campaign about $60,000.


Prosecutors said Hunter and his wife “mischaracterized” the purchases in Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings to hide the illicit spending.


“Family dental bills paid with campaign funds were characterized as a charitable contribution to ‘Smiles for Life,’” the press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office said as an example.
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Rep. Duncan Hunter and his wife, Margaret, at his swearing-in ceremony on Capitol Hill on Jan. 5, 2011. (AP)


Charges included conspiracy to commit offenses against the United States, wire fraud and falsifying records.


Hunter, one of Trump’s earliest supporters in the presidential race, allegedly was aware of what he and his wife were doing and continued to spend campaign funds on personal expenses despite multiple warnings from his campaign treasurer about “questionable purchases.”


“According to the indictment, the Hunters knew that many of their desired purchases could be made only by using campaign funds, since they did not otherwise have sufficient personal funds to pay for their purchases,” according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.


U.S. Attorney Adam Braverman said that Tuesday’s indictment proves that “no one is above the law.”
The pair is due to be arraigned in court on Thursday at 10:30 a.m.

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2018...alifornia.html

This could suck in a major way. We can ill afford to lose anti-illegal alien amnesty folks like Hunter in California.

Rep. Duncan Hunter to abandon ‘not guilty’ plea in campaign finance scandal