Reprinted from Mike Malloy
A US Air Force Lieutenent charged with trying to join ISIS, the race for Prime Minister in Israel is too close to call, and Representative Aaron Schock of Illinois is resigning amid a coming ethics investigation.
This guy takes the cake. What began as an inquiry by a curious reporter about Schock's bizarre redecorating of his Congressional office to replicate the "red room" from the TV show Downton Abby soon became a serious investigation into layers of graft and political corruption.
Politico has this fun timeline of the short, happy political life of Aaron Schock:
Schock's fallMounting legal and ethical problems consumed the Illinois Republican over the past two months.
By Nick Gass
Feb. 2 - The Washington Post reports on Schock's "Downton Abbey"-inspired office in the Rayburn House Office Building, featuring pheasant feathers and a bust of home-state President Abraham Lincoln.
Feb. 9 - Following the Post report and another revelation from USA Today, POLITICO details Schock's lavish -- but legal -- spending at pricey hotels in Las Vegas, San Francisco, Miami Beach and other posh destinations for campaign purposes.
"In addition to staying at expensive hotels, Schock also has spent more than $90,000 in campaign dollars on private air charters, an unusually high sum for a rank-and-file member of the House," POLITICO reported at the time.
Feb. 10 - Schock launches his own internal review of tens of thousands of dollars in reimbursements he received for using his official vehicle. POLITICO reports that he has received approximately $1,000 in "private auto mileage" reimbursements from his monthly congressional allowance.
Feb. 24 - Schock brings on two prominent Washington defense lawyers and a public relations firm to battle the brewing controversy over his use of campaign and official accounts to pay for expensive travel and lodging accommodations.
His office declined to answer when asked about a 2011 trip to London in which he stayed at a five-star hotel where the cheapest room went for $500 per night. Documents obtained by POLITICO also showed he was scheduled to visit expensive clothing stores and dined at Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace.
Feb. 26 - It comes out that the Illinois lawmaker never disclosed receiving dinner or drinks during the London trip, POLITICO reports.
Feb. 27 - Schock suspends fundraising events.
The same day, POLITICO reports that Schock spent nearly $15,000 in government money for private flights between October and December.
March 1 - The Chicago Sun-Times reports that Schock used taxpayer money to fly from Peoria to Chicago for a Bears game the previous November.
March 6 - More details about Schock's international spending surface, as some in his circle and the House Republican Conference fear the Illinois lawmaker could face an Ethics Committee investigation. He holds a news conference but does not alert the national media.
March 9 -- POLITICO finds that Schock misreported his payment for the private flight from Peoria to Chicago for the Bears game, indicating the more than $3,000 as a software expenditure. In reality, the $3,000 was a deposit in addition to the $10,000 that Schock previously disclosed that he was billed for the flight, said Keith Sillats, the chief technology officer for Bytelogics.
March 11 - POLITICO asks the congressman in his home district whether he thought he had broken any rules or federal regulations. "Well, I certainly hope not," Schock said. "I'm not an attorney."
Aaron Schock asked if he had broken any rules or federal regulations
(Image by Twitter User KaJean56) Details DMCAMarch 16 -- Investigators from the Office of Congressional Ethics start reaching out to people in Schock's circle.
March 16 -- POLITICO asks Schock about tens of thousands of dollars in questionable mileage reimbursements.
March 17 - Schock announces his resignation, effective March 31.
Perhaps Schock should've remodeled his office to resemble "Locked Up" instead.
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