A hearing Monday to decide whether a new defense attorney for Rep. Duncan Hunter should be disqualified because of an alleged conflict of interest was postponed until Dec. 3.

The postponement came Monday during a hearing at federal courthouse in San Diego, after prosecutors and attorneys for Hunter, R-Alpine, held a brief “sidebar” meeting with U.S. District Court Judge Thomas Whelan. The reason for the postponement was not disclosed in open court and an attorney for Hunter declined to provide details outside of the courthouse Monday morning.

Prosecutors want the court to disqualify Paul Pfingst, a veteran trial lawyer Hunter has hired to defend him at trial Jan. 22 on charges stemming from a sweeping campaign finance investigation.

The government says Pfingst has a conflict of interest because another attorney at Pfingst’s firm has represented three witnesses who gave grand jury testimony damaging to Hunter’s defense.


Pfingst said after the hearing Monday that no conflict exists that would require his disqualification from representing Hunter. He said Hunter’s trial was expected to begin as scheduled in January.

Hunter and his wife and former campaign manager, Margaret, were charged in August 2018 with 60 counts stemming from their alleged use of more than $250,000 in campaign contributions for personal expenses including school lunches , video games , airfare for a pet rabbit , dental work, a trip to Sea World, extramarital affairs , tequila shots , a family vacation to Italy and more .

Both Hunters pleaded not guilty when arraigned. Margaret Hunter in June changed her plea to guilty of one count of conspiracy and has agreed to testify against her husband.

She is scheduled to be sentenced April 13.