The investigation into what many feel is questionable spending by Illinois Representative Aaron Schock is growing. The inquiry has now grown to the point where some of the Republican’s associates are being contacted by congressional investigators.
The Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE) has apparently grown an interest into Schock’s spending, a likely sign that an official investigation has been opened.
OCE cannot subpoena witnesses, but the results of its investigation will help the House Ethics Committee make recommendations.
Schock has come under fire for purportedly misusing tax dollars and campaign funds allegedly for the use of personal travel, vacationing, office redecorating, and events.
News of the growing investigation comes on the heels of yet another report of what looks like a shaky real estate deal in the representative’s hometown of Peoria, Illinois.
On Monday, the Associated Press reported that Rep. Schock got a $600,000 mortgage loan from a bank run by his political donors for a property seemingly only worth $300,000.
Schock’s extravagant spending first came to light early in February when he was criticized for redecorating his offices in a Downton Abby theme—courtesy of the taxpayer. By the end of February, Schock was making attempts to repay those expenses.
In another case, a review of congressional disbursement records by the Chicago Sun-Times discovered that Schock used $20,855 in tax dollars to pay for a flight from Washington D.C. to Peoria, Illinois, then one to Chicago for the Bears-Vikings game on November 16.
Since then, there have been numerous reports of other possibly unethical expenditures charged in some cases to donors and in others to the taxpayer.
The congressman also found problems with a senior adviser who had to resign on February 5, after a series of race-based posts on social media were made public.
Follow Warner Todd Huston on Twitter @warnerthuston or email the author at igcolonel@hotmail.com.