Report: Schock claims staffer secretly recorded him for feds

Posted on March 29, 2017
Former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock faces a July 11 trial date. (WJBC file photo)

By Eric Stock

WASHINGTON – Lawyers for former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock are alleging federal investigators broke the law by having one of Schock’s staffers secretly record him.

The Peoria Republican who was formally charged last year and resigned from his U.S. House seat in 2015 is asking a judge to dismiss the charges on a claim of prosecutorial misconduct, according to a Tuesday court filing.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports the confidential informant provided thousands of legislative emails, staff rosters, and other documents from Schock’s district office. His lawyers are asking a judge to allow his legal team to gather more information about the informant’s role in the federal investigation.

Schock is awaiting trial on charges he filed false income tax returns and misused government and campaign funds on travel, game tickets and the lavish decorating of his government office.

The paper says Schock has been working for a real estate development firm and splitting his time between Peoria and Los Angeles.

Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…