Representative Duncan D. Hunter, a Republican from San Diego who was considered for several top national security posts in President Trump’s administration, became the latest in a string of at least eight current or former members of Congress to face criminal investigations over ethics issues in the last several years.
A five-term congressman, Mr. Hunter has already paid back $60,000 to his political campaign to correct what he said were mistaken payments for personal items.
But that has not cleared him of scrutiny.
The House Ethics Committee, which has been examining Mr. Hunter’s possible misuse of campaign funds, said in a statement on Thursday that it would put its review on hold at the request of the Justice Department.
Typically, the Justice Department asks the ethics committee to hold off on a review because it has opened a criminal investigation of its own. A person with knowledge of the case said prosecutors have notified Mr. Hunter of their criminal investigation.
