Screws turn on Aaron Schock as replacement election set

CHICAGO (WLS) -- The surprise resignation of Congressman Aaron Schock now results in two election dates being set for the 18th district: a primary shortly after independence day on July 7 and then the general election between the Republican and Democratic candidates for Schock's suddenly-vacant seat.

At the same time, a federal grand jury will be immersed in testimony and evidence of possible financial misconduct by the downstate politician.

At first last winter the Schock story was merely an amusing side of Capitol Hill: the congressman's office redecoration with red walls and royal furniture resembling a set right out of "Downton Abbey."

But then came questions about how it was paid for, questions that led to a money trail of unusual expense account entries, campaign purchases, trips on donor aircraft and business deals with contributors.

Suddenly embroiled in a public scandal, on March 31 Schock resigned, the end of a promising career and the beginning of a federal grand jury investigation.

Tuesday night, a U.S. grand jury seated here at the federal courthouse in Springfield, has already begun examining evidence of possible financial misconduct by Schock with of his top aides being subpoenaed to testify. According to the house clerk today his Chief of Staff Mark Roman, along with the manager of his Peoria district office, district chief of staff and executive assistant all notified House officials of the federal subpoenas. That quartet of witnesses is in addition to a federal subpoena already delivered to former communications director Ben Cole.