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By Andrew Stanton
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A former Republican challenger to Representative Maxine Waters told Newsweek he is being "held hostage" in California after being charged with alleged campaign finance violations.
Omar Navarro, a Republican who challenged Waters in every election since 2016, accused the Department of Justice (DOJ) of a "two-tier justice system" in a post to X, formerly Twitter, on Monday evening.
Republicans have alleged that federal agencies are targeting conservatives while giving easier treatment to Democrats such as Hunter Biden, President Joe Biden's son, who has been charged with counts including tax fraud.
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"Hunter Biden can travel to other states freely after being indicted by the FBI but I cannot travel after my indictment. I'm being held hostage in California away from my home in Florida. Two tier justice system huh?" Navarro wrote.
Navarro was charged in September on a 43-count grand jury indictment accusing him of misusing campaign funds by "funneling tens of thousands of dollars in campaign donations back to himself through his friends and family," according to a DOJ press release.
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Navarro told Newsweek via text Tuesday afternoon that he opted to move out of California after deciding not to run for office again but that prosecutors want him in the state when the trial begins next December. He said he is being "held" in California, unable to see his fiancée or dogs. He wrote he is unable to help her with rent or amid health issues.
"Regardless of whomever it is, Hunter or any other person with political power or money behind them. They get preferred treatment. I'm a regular person, not some political elite or wealthy person. I have a court appointed lawyer because I cannot afford a private one yet," he wrote.
In total, Navarro was charged with 13 counts of wire fraud, 26 counts of falsification of records, and three counts of prohibited use of campaign funds.
He was accused of using campaign funds to pay for personal expenses, including a trip to Las Vegas and California's wine country, as well as two criminal defense attorneys, while falsely reporting these as campaign expenses to the Federal Election Commission (FEC), according to the DOJ.
He also allegedly sent $49,260 to his friend and $58,625 to his friend and mother, respectively, between December 2017 and June 2020.
Newsweek reached out to the DOJ via email for comment.
Navarro lost to Waters by 55 points in the 2022 midterms, when she secured 77 percent of the vote to his 23 percent in the Democratic Los Angeles-based congressional district. He received 22 percent of the vote in 2018 and 24 percent in 2016 and lost the primary election in 2020.
Waters has represented the area since 1991.
In 2019, Navarro was arrested for allegedly violating a restraining order placed against him by a fellow GOP candidate running against House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Deanna Lorraine.
Earlier in December, Hunter Biden was indicted on nine charges over allegations that he failed to file and pay taxes. The indictment included three felony counts of tax evasion and filing a false return and six misdemeanor counts of failure to return.
Biden pleaded not guilty to separate gun-related counts in October. He was charged with possession of a firearm while using drugs and was released without any cash bond.
Update 12/26/2023 3:13 p.m. ET: This article was updated with comment from Navarro.
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