‘Downton Abbey’ Congressman Used Donor Funds For Private Planes, Concerts
[su_right_ad]Illinois Congressman Aaron Schock, whose office was designed to look like something out of the elegant “Downton Abbey”, is now accused of using donor funds for private planes and a Katy Perry concert.
Schock’s high-flying lifestyle, combined with questions about expenses decorating his office after the TV show “Downton Abbey,” add to awkward perceptions on top of allegations he illegally solicited donations in 2012.
The Office of Congressional Ethics said in a 2013 report that there was reason to believe Schock violated House rules by soliciting campaign contributions for a committee that backed Rep. Adam Kinzinger, R-Ill., in a 2012 primary. The House Ethics Committee has said that query remains open.
“Haters are gonna hate,” Schock, 33, told ABC News after the “Downton Abbey” story broke in The Washington Post, brushing off the controversy by invoking a line from one of pop singer Taylor Swift’s songs.
Lawmakers can use office funds for private flights as long as payments cover their share of the costs. But most of the flights Schock covered with office funds occurred before the House changed its rules in January 2013. The earlier rules prohibited lawmakers from using those accounts to pay for flights on private aircraft, allowing payments only for federally licensed charter and commercial flights.
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edmeyer_able February 24th, 2015 at 8:44 am
Just like #Christie2016 he wants to squeeze all the juice from that orange.
Bunya February 24th, 2015 at 1:37 pm
Hell, I would be shocked to find out he wasn’t doing anything illegal.
Larry Schmitt February 24th, 2015 at 3:09 pm
This is why legislators should not be able to make the rules they operate under. Isn’t the conflict of interests obvious? Well, obvious to everyone except them.