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Just dropped · Trial Balloon · Ep. 192

November Surprises

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Trial Balloon · Ep. 192: November Surprises

Charges Dropped Against Aaron Schock

September 4, 2019 · 5:03 pm ET · Leave a Comment

Former Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL) “will walk away from a public corruption case with no conviction, a federal judge ruled Wednesday at a hearing lasting just a few minutes,” the Chicago Sun Times reports.

“A 2016 indictment accused Schock of improperly using campaign and government funds for cars, mileage reimbursements, interior decorating, a charter plane flight to a Bears game and sports tickets he resold for profit.”

“Schock struck a deal with prosecutors in March, which put his case on hold for six months during which he was required to meet certain conditions and remain under court supervision.”

Corruption Aaron Schock

Schock Won’t Rule out Return to Politics

March 7, 2019 · 7:56 am ET · Leave a Comment

Former Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL) said that he would not rule out a return to politics after striking a deal with federal prosecutors to have corruption charges dropped with no admission of wrongdoing if he pays restitution and back taxes, Politico reports.

Saiod Schock: “At 37 years old, I don’t think I’ll ever say never.”

Corruption Aaron Schock

Ex-GOP Lawmaker Strikes Deal to Avert Prosecution

March 6, 2019 · 12:09 pm ET · Leave a Comment

Federal prosecutors finalized a deal to resolve the criminal charges against former Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL) who was “accused of misspending campaign and government money for his personal benefit,” the Washington Post reports.

Chicago Tribune: “The stunning deal, known as a deferred prosecution agreement, was announced Wednesday during what was supposed to be a routine status hearing for Schock.”

“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.”

Corruption Aaron Schock

Shakeup Possible In Case Against Aaron Schock

March 6, 2019 · 6:20 am ET · Leave a Comment

“Late Tuesday the ABC7 I-Team learned that something … is happening in the case-suggesting an outcome for Schock may be unveiled at the Dirksen federal building.”

“The one-time rising star of the Illinois Republican party resigned his Peoria Congressional seat in 2015 on accusations of misspending campaign funds on lavish personal expenses. Since the beginning the case has been laden with problems and it ended up being moved from Urbana to Chicago.”

“Now it appears there may be a dramatic shift in things. According to experts a possible scenario is that the government would reduce some of the 22 felonies to misdemeanors and that other charges would be dropped-offering a way out for Schock, that conceivably could allow him a return to politics.”

Corruption, House of Representatives Aaron Schock

Schock Loses Appeal of Criminal Indictment

May 30, 2018 · 2:02 pm ET · Leave a Comment

“A three-judge panel of a federal appeals court on Wednesday rejected former Rep. Aaron Schock’s (R-IL) effort to throw out his criminal indictment, a major setback for the Illinois Republican’s efforts to avoid a trial on corruption charges,” Politico reports.

Corruption Aaron Schock

Judge Lets Stand Schock Indictment

October 24, 2017 · 7:04 am ET · Leave a Comment

“A federal judge in Illinois on Monday let stand the vast majority of the indictment against former GOP Rep. Aaron Schock, refusing a defense request to dismiss the charges,” Politico reports.

“Schock was indicted in November 2016 on a variety of corruption charges, including wire fraud, mail fraud, filing false federal tax returns, submitting inaccurate reports to the Federal Election Commission, making false statements, and theft of government funds.”

Corruption Aaron Schock

Prosecutors Inquired About Schock’s Sex Life

August 2, 2017 · 7:09 am ET · Leave a Comment

“Defense attorneys for former congressman Aaron Schock (R-IL) have asked a federal judge to dismiss the criminal charges against him, arguing in a court filing Tuesday that investigators acted inappropriately in the case, including by exploring Schock’s sex life and whether he was gay,” the Washington Post reports.

Said the laywers: “It is no secret that there has long been speculative gossip in the media about Mr. Schock’s sexual orientation. For no apparent reason, the government has felt itself compelled to investigate this too.”

Corruption Aaron Schock

Schock Charged In 24 Count Criminal Indictment

November 10, 2016 · 5:51 pm ET · Leave a Comment

“The Justice Department accused former Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL) of running his congressional office and campaign committee like a personal money-making operation in a stunning, 24-count criminal indictment,” Politico reports.

“Federal prosecutors allege that Schock pocketed tens of thousands of dollars in improper mileage reimbursments, camera equipment, and proceeds from selling tickets to the World Series and Super Bowl. Schock even used a front corporation to make money from an annual constituent ‘fly-in,’ the indictment states.”

Chicago Tribune: “Schock also is accused of filing false federal income tax returns for tax years 2010 through 2015. That involved the failure to report additional income he received, the prosecutor said.”

House of Representatives Aaron Schock

Smith’s Ties to Schock Questioned

September 18, 2015 · 2:11 pm ET · 13 Comments

Rep. Jason Smith (R-MO) “joined his close friend Aaron Schock on campaign and government trips and exotic vacations in 2014 that are being scrutinized by federal investigators looking into alleged spending abuses by the former congressman, who resigned in March,” The Hill reports.

“There’s no indication that federal prosecutors have questioned or sought records from Smith, but his participation on trips now under criminal investigation could drag one of Schock’s closest friends in Congress into his legal mess and undermine Smith’s political image as a humble, salt-of-the-earth fiscal conservative.”

House of Representatives Aaron Schock, Jason Smith

Kirk Gets Heat Over Use of Schock Decorator

September 18, 2015 · 12:07 pm ET · 16 Comments

Sen. Mark Kirk (R-IL) “is the target of an ethics complaint over supposedly having his office redecorated for free by the same designer who worked on” disgraced former Rep. Aaron Schock’s  (R-IL) “Downton Abbey”-themed office, WBGZ reports.

Senate Aaron Schock, Mark Kirk

LaHood Easily Wins Special Election

September 11, 2015 · 6:04 am ET · 3 Comments

Darin LaHood (R), son of former U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, easily won a special election to replace disgraced former Rep. Aaron Schock (R), sending a familiar name to Washington, D.C., from Illinois, the Chicago Tribune reports.

2015 Campaign Aaron Schock, Darin LaHood

Schock Faces More Legal Trouble

July 30, 2015 · 5:55 am ET · Leave a Comment

Former Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL) “appeared in court this week to try to fend off a potential civil contempt citation over allegations that he has failed to comply with a subpoena demanding campaign and congressional documents,” Politico reports.

Chicago Sun Times: “A byproduct of what became an open hearing on the civil contempt issue was official confirmation of the existence of the grand jury in Springfield, which has been hearing testimony about Schock for months.”

Scandal Aaron Schock

Schock Scandal May Prompt Crackdown

July 13, 2015 · 6:01 am ET · 4 Comments

“House leaders are considering sweeping changes to Congress’ reimbursement requirements in the wake of the Aaron Schock scandal, including forcing lawmakers to provide more detailed documentation about how they spend taxpayer money and disclosing those details to the public,” Politico reports.

Corruption Aaron Schock

Former Schock Aide Talking to the FBI

May 28, 2015 · 2:22 pm ET · 6 Comments

“A onetime aide to Aaron Schock told the FBI this week that the embattled ex-congressman and two employees flew on a private jet with an insurance company executive last year, prompting the adviser to raise concerns about the legality of the trip,” Politico reports.

“If Schock accepted travel on a private jet from an individual or corporation without accounting for the trip, it could be a violation of federal law.”

Corruption Aaron Schock

Investigation Into Schock Fundraising Widens

May 26, 2015 · 9:42 am ET · 8 Comments

Former Rep. Aaron Schock’s (R-IL) use of a couple’s “condo and travel services may run afoul of campaign laws and House ethics rules,” the Chicago Tribune reports.

“And that couple’s financial activity in 2010 raise questions of a possible donor-swapping scheme between Schock’s and now-former Rep. Michael Grimm’s (R-NY) supporters, totaling about $16,000 on each side.”

Meanwhile, the Chicago Sun Times reports Schock also did not report any in-kind donations for a major fundraiser headlined by Sen. Marco Rubio (R-FL) last summer.

2016 Campaign Aaron Schock

Schock Looking for a Job

May 7, 2015 · 9:30 am ET · 21 Comments

While a grand jury investigating former Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL), a friend tells the Chicago Sun Times he was in Chicago — and looking for a job.

Said the friend: “He’s thinking about the next chapter of his life. He’s not underground. He’s not in hiding. He’s not in disguise running around Antarctica.”

House of Representatives Aaron Schock

Where Is Aaron Schock?

April 30, 2015 · 11:45 am ET · 15 Comments

“Aaron Schock once broadcast his worldly travels on Instagram for all to see. But two weeks after a campaign donor filed a federal lawsuit against the former congressman, an attorney for the donor said Wednesday he can’t track the Peoria Republican down,” the Chicago Sun Times reports.

House of Representatives Aaron Schock

Schock Aides Appear Before Grand Jury

April 8, 2015 · 7:00 am ET · 1 Comment

“With federal prosecutors investigating former Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL), at least three current or former staffers were in Springfield on Tuesday, summoned to testify before a grand jury,” the Chicago Sun Times reports.

“Schock’s resignation from Congress on March 31 did not affect the investigation, which was launched after stories in the Chicago Sun-Times, Politico, USA Today and other outlets raised questions about Schock’s lavish spending of taxpayer and political funds and other dealings.”

Corruption Aaron Schock

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Taegan Goddard

Taegan Goddard

Taegan Goddard is the founder of Political Wire -- which for more than two decades has been one of the nation's most influential political news sites.

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