Aaron Shock, now cleared of federal charges, could run again for office. Would you vote for him again?
Aaron Schock, former United States Representative for Illinois’s 18th congressional district (2009-2015) was the first member of the U.S. Congress born in the 1980’s,and when he took his seat in 2009 he was the youngest member of Congress. Schock had served two terms in the Illinois House of Representatives when he resigned from Congress in March 2015 amidst a scandal involving his use of public and campaign funds. The now infamous “Downton Abbey Office” and the money spent to create it, was quite the local conversation piece. A congressional ethics investigation revealed that he used taxpayer money to not just decorate, but also fund lavish trips and events. A federal grand jury indicted him in connection with the scandal and he pleaded not guilty.
UPDATE:
The Chicago Tribune reports prosecutors in Chicago agreed to drop the charges if Mr.Shock agrees to pay back money he owes to the IRS and his campaign fund.
According to the agreement, Schock, 37, must pay $42,000 to the IRS and $68,000 to his congressional campaign fund. If he does so — and stays out of any new trouble — prosecutors would drop all felony counts against Schock, leaving him with a clean record.
As part of the deal, Schock’s campaign committee, Schock for Congress, pleaded guilty Wednesday to a misdemeanor count of failing to properly report expenses. Kennelly approved the plea deal after prosecutors said they had taken a fresh look at the charges and decided this would be a “fair and just” outcome, especially given that Schock has no criminal record and resigned from public office.
In a statement, Schock applauded prosecutor’s decision but questioned why it took so long.
Mr. Shock became famous in Peoria after winning a write-in campaign to be elected to the Peoria school board at age 19.
Susan Saunders 3/6/19
