Posted on 03/17/2015 1:08:11 PM PDT by csvset
WASHINGTON Embattled Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., facing a growing number of questions over his use of taxpayer and campaign funds on Tuesday announced that he will resign from Congress on March 31.
By stepping down now, Schock likely heads off a probe in the works by the Office of Congressional Ethics and a likely examination of his spending by the House Ethics Committee. It does not automatically shut off inquiries, if there are any, from the Federal Election Commission or the Justice Department.
Schocks resignation comes as his legal and public relations team knew more revelations were probably coming and as the Sun-Times was conducting an investigation of his mileage reimbursement claims. Motor vehicle records from the Illinois Secretary of State, obtained by the Sun-Times under the Freedom of Information Act, suggest that Schock billed more miles than his vehicle was driven.
On Monday, the Sun-Times reported that Schock billed taxpayers for mileage on the $74,000 Chevy Tahoe he was driving paid for by on of his political committees.
CREW the ethics watchdog group urged that investigations into Rep. Schocks conduct continue. Although the Office of Congressional Ethics loses jurisdiction once he leaves the House, CREW has also filed a complaint with the Federal Election Commission, which can and must continue its investigation. Todays revelations about Rep. Schocks mileage reimbursements indicate the need for a criminal investigation as well.
The public deserves to know the full extent of all laws and rules that Rep. Schock may have broken during his time in office and how he was able to avoid accountability for so long. It would do a great disservice to the public for the search for the truth to end simply because Rep. Schocks political career has, CREW said in the statement.
The resignation came as a surprise to Schocks colleagues. Members who were with him in the gym this morning had no indication this was coming, a source told the Sun-Times.
I’m positively shocked!
Members who were with him in the gym this morning had no indication this was coming,
Saw a pic of him and the Gaydar went off the scale!
Looking at the Ill. 18th Cong. Dist. on the map, it seems it would be more red than blue. How conservative is the 18th?
This supports the notion there are no differences between the two parties.
Because it is Illinois, I would guess that the Governor will pick his replacement. That will really p**s off the Dems who would have never anticipated a R Governor. That said, Republican doesn’t mean so much anymore.
...in the *taxpayer-funded* gym, one of the scores of perks Congress critters and Senate poobahs receive. So many, in fact, they fill a 4-inch thick binder each member is presented.
I’m not from Illinois so I really can’t say. It looks as though this guy liked living the high life at taxpayer’s expense. Bring back the stocks and tar and feathering.
He seemed like an idiot.
Maybe he’ll rise again as a Democrat.
Is it the governor? I tried a few searches, (perhaps the wording wasn’t right), I’m not sure how they do the replacement in Ill.
Whatever gave you that idea?.....................
Governors do not pick replacement members of the House of Representatives. The seat remains vacant until a special election is held.
No, there has to be a special election.
When a Congressman resigns, a special election must be called.
Just by reading the headline, I knew it was a Republican
...
Democrats rarely resign....
He was a cheap labor importer, good riddance.
He resigned. So what.
When is he being indicted?
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