U.S. Representative Duncan Hunter, a leading
California Republican who pleaded guilty last month to a federal corruption charge of conspiracy to misuse campaign funds, announced on Tuesday that he would resign from office effective Jan. 13.
![California congressman convicted in corruption case to resign next week](https://media.zenfs.com/en-US/reuters.com/3b34d97fe437137148eca5150db9fc6f)
Hunter, 43, whose conviction set off a scramble within the Republican Party to succeed him while seemingly boosting Democrats' chances to gain his seat, notified Governor Gavin Newsom and House Speaker
Nancy Pelosi by letter of his departure date.
Hunter's letters make no mention of his criminal conviction but instead cite his work in
Congress on behalf of the military, war veterans, education and the maritime industry.