Duncan D. Hunter

Duncan Duane Hunter (born December 7, 1976) is an American former politician and United States Marine who served as a U.S. representative for CA's 50th congressional district from 2013 to 2020.

He graduated from Granite Hills High School in El Cajon, California, in 1994, and San Diego State University, where he earned a B.S. in information systems in 2001.

During his sophomore year of college, Hunter started a web design company with a friend.

After graduation, he worked in San Diego as an information technology business analyst.

After the September 11 attacks, Hunter joined the United States Marine Corps.

He attended Officer Candidates School at Marine Corps Base Quantico.

He served in the U.S. Marines from 2001 through 2005 and succeeded his father, Republican Duncan Lee Hunter, a member of Congress from 1981 to 2009.

When he graduated in March 2002, he was commissioned as a second lieutenant.

He subsequently served as a field artillery officer in the 1st Marine Division after the 2003 invasion of Iraq.

He completed a second tour in Fallujah, Iraq, in 2004, serving in Battery A, 1st Battalion, 11th Marines.

During his second tour, he participated in Operation Vigilant Resolve, in which he fought in battles in Fallujah.

Hunter was working in a command center on April 12, 2004, that mistakenly approved the mortar launch onto a schoolhouse in Fallujah where U.S. troops had set up a temporary base.

Two U.S. Marines and an Iraqi interpreter were killed by the 81 mm mortar.

Among the dozen wounded were three who were so seriously injured that they had to be medically retired.

In September 2005, Hunter was honorably discharged from active duty.

After his discharge he started a residential development company.

He was promoted to captain during his wartime deployments as an artillery officer in 2006, and to major in 2012.

In 2007, he was recalled to active duty and deployed to Afghanistan.

2008 On March 20, 2007, Hunter's father, Duncan Lee Hunter, announced that as part of his presidential bid he would not seek re-election to the House of Representatives in 2008, retiring from Congress after 14 terms.

After Hunter announced his candidacy for his father's seat, he was recalled by the United States Marine Corps to serve in the War in Afghanistan.

He is a member of the Republican Party, who was first elected to the House in 2008.

On June 3, 2008, Hunter won the Republican primary with 72% of the vote in a four-candidate field and became the Republican nominee to replace his father, representing the 52nd District.

In the general election, Hunter defeated Democratic nominee Mike Lumpkin, a former Navy SEAL, 56%–39%.

His district, numbered as the CA's 52nd congressional district from 2009 to 2013, encompassed much of northern and inland San Diego County and a sliver of Riverside County, including the cities of El Cajon, Escondido, San Marcos, Santee and Temecula.

In 2017, the Department of Justice began a criminal investigation into Hunter and his campaign manager and wife, Margaret Jankowski, for alleged campaign finance violations.

Hunter remained in the Marine Corps Reserve until 2017.

In August 2018, both were indicted on charges including conspiracy, wire fraud, and violating campaign finance laws.

According to Politico in August 2018, Hunter still experiences the trauma of his wartime deployments as an artillery officer in Afghanistan and Iraq.

In April 2023 a report from NPR said that Hunter had been partly to blame for the friendly fire incident in Iraq in April 2004 that killed two U.S. Marines and an Iraqi interpreter.

Hunter stated he was a trainee at the time; he admitted that he plotted the coordinates of the target and marked it on the map, but said he was working under the supervision of another officer who made the final call.

The other officer told NPR that Hunter had been serving as the acting watch officer for the first time so that it was Hunter's call, but also blamed himself for not evaluating the call more closely.

A military investigation of the incident was never made public.

In June 2019, Jankowski pleaded guilty to corruption and named him as a co-conspirator in using campaign funds for personal expenses.

Also in June 2019, federal prosecutors showed that from 2009 to 2016, Hunter had spent campaign funds on extramarital affairs with five women, including lobbyists and congressional staff.

In December 2019, Hunter changed his plea to guilty on one count of misusing campaign funds.

On January 7, 2020, he submitted letters of resignation to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and California Governor Gavin Newsom, that took effect on January 13, 2020.

On March 17, 2020, Hunter was sentenced to 11 months in prison, which had been scheduled to begin in January 2021.

Hunter, however, did not serve any time because he was pardoned by President Donald Trump in December 2020.

The next day, Trump also pardoned Hunter's wife.

Hunter was born in San Diego, California, the son of Helynn Louise (née Layh) and Duncan Lee Hunter.