House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., on Tuesday stripped Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Calif., of his committee assignments after he was indicted for stealing campaign funds.
“The charges against Rep. Hunter are deeply serious,” Ryan said. “The Ethics Committee deferred its investigation at the request of the Justice Department.”
“Now that he has been indicted, Rep. Hunter will be removed from his committee assignments pending the resolution of this matter,” Ryan added.
Hunter is the second early supporter of President Trump this month who has been indicted and stripped of his committee assignment. In early August, Rep. Chris Collins, R-N.Y., was indicted for insider trading, and was taken off the House Energy and Commerce Committee.
Hunter and his wife were indicted Tuesday for using campaign money for a range of personal expenses, including tuition, vacations, and even dental work.
[Opinion: Duncan Hunter is greedy and corrupt and has no place in the GOP or Washington]
For Democrats, Ryan’s move wasn’t enough. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Hunter should be pressured to resign.
“The charges against Congressman Hunter are further evidence of the rampant culture of corruption among Republicans in Washington today,” she said. “Once again, one of President Trump’s earliest supporters in Congress has broken the public trust and abused his position to enrich himself and his family.”
“Speaker Ryan must immediately call on Congressman Hunter to resign, and affirm that no one is above the law,” she added.
As of Tuesday, however, Hunter had not resigned, but his name seemed likely to remain on the ballot in California, which would likely help boost Democrats’ chances to take the seat.
