By Cole Lauterbach/Illinois Radio Network
PEORIA – Facing multiple felony charges, ex-Congressman Aaron Schock is asking for a home-court trial.
Defense attorneys for the former Republican lawmaker requested this week that his federal trial is moved from Springfield to Peoria, Schock’s hometown and the congressional district he once served. The motion to relocate, filed in federal court, said the case had “virtually no connection to Springfield, however, and Peoria is the more convenient and more appropriate division. Not only has Peoria been Mr. Schock’s home for more than 25 years, including the entire period covered by the Indictment and his three-plus terms in office, but he maintained both his principal district office and his campaign headquarters there.”
“There’s no reason to make people drive an hour back and forth every day in the court proceeding,” Schock legal team spokesman Mark Hubbard said. “It’s the appropriate court for where the activities took place when Aaron was a member of the U.S. House of Representatives.”
The motion made it clear there wasn’t another motive for the move to Peoria, saying Schock “is unaware of either docket or facility conditions in Peoria that would significantly impede his right to a speedy, open and fair trial.”
The motion said that the only reason for the trial being in Springfield appears to be because it’s where the lead prosecutor works.
Peoria Journal Star court reporter Andy Kravetz says Schock’s trial has divided local opinion.
“The people who don’t like Aaron Schock are taking a bit of glee in this, while the people that support Aaron Schock feel that he’s being railroaded,” Kravetz said.
Schock said in a statement that the charges against him were manufactured by a Democratic administration. He was indicted on 24 counts on Nov. 10, with charges ranging from wire fraud to filing false tax returns. Each charge is a felony that carries several years of prison time.
Schock, 35, served six years as a Republican in the U.S. House of Representatives from 2009 to 2015.
He’s scheduled to appear in Springfield on Dec. 12 for his arraignment.
