SAN DIEGO (AP) — A federal judge has refused to dismiss federal corruption charges against Republican Member of Congress Duncan Hunter or move the trial outside his district as requested by the congressman’s attorneys. Hunter’s district encompasses parts of Temecula and eastern San Diego County.
U.S. District Judge Thomas Whelan ruled from the bench yesterday (Monday) that Hunter easily won re-election to a sixth term in 2018 after being indicted and therefore he should be able to be tried fairly in the district.
Defense lawyers also argued prosecutors are politically motivated and the case should be dismissed. Whelan says he found no evidence of that.
They wanted the trial moved to the Eastern District of California, where counties carried Donald Trump in the 2016 presidential elections are located.
The trial begins in September.