A group of female Fox News panelists tore into embattled Republican Rep. Duncan Hunter (Calif.), this week after he blamed his wife for their indictment on alleged misuse of campaign funds.
Hunter and his wife, Margaret Hunter, were indicted this week after they allegedly spent campaign donations on “fast food, movie tickets, golf outings, video games, coffee, groceries, home utilities, and expensive meals.”
Hunter appeared on Fox News’s “The Story with Martha MacCallum” on Thursday and blamed his wife, saying she was the couple’s power of attorney and that she handled the expenses.
{mosads}
MacCallum on Friday brought on three other female panelists who scoffed at Hunter’s finger-pointing.
“Stutter much? This guy — his body language, the way he’s presenting himself — clearly I know he’s innocent until proven guilty but let me say a few things about this: what kind of wimp blames their wife?” Washington Examiner columnist Capri Cafaro said on Fox News.
“He shouldn’t have crossed her because if he does and they get divorced he can’t benefit from that spousal immunity. They really should have a united front here if he knows what’s good for him, but apparently he doesn’t and he’s a coward,” she continued.
Fox News contributor Lisa Boothe joked that Hunter now has a “lot bigger things” to fear than the indictment now that he crossed his wife.
“This does not look good, 600 campaign expenditures for bunny flights — to fly his kids’ bunny to Washington, D.C.,” Boothe continued.
The 47-page indictment also included campaign expenditures for 30 tequila shots and steak, she pointed out.
MacCallum suggested that the couple have an agreement for Martha Hunter to “take the heat.”
“Aside from throwing your wife under the bus on national TV, or at all, what about taking responsibility?” Page Six TV’s Elizabeth Wagmeister asked.
The Hunters pleaded not guilty to the 60 charges against them on Thursday amid protesters chanting “lock him up” upon Duncan Hunter’s arrival at the federal courthouse.
The California Republican’s bail was set at $15,000, while his wife’s was set at $10,000. Hunter was also ordered to relinquish his guns by Monday, ABC 10 News reported.
Hunter will remain on the ballot in California’s 50th Congressional District in November. A spokesman for the California secretary of state said in a statement to The Hill that there is no process to remove his name from the ballot.