The grand jury indictment against Aaron Schock accuses the former Illinois congressman of spending $40,000 in government funds to redecorate his Washington office — including the purchase of a $5,000 chandelier.
The U.S. attorney’s office in Springfield, Illinois, announced the 24-count, 52-page indictment on Thursday.
The 35-year-old Republican from Peoria had been under investigation after a spending scandal that included the remodeling of his Capitol Hill office in the style of the television series “Downton Abbey.”
Other allegations include that Schock “fraudulently” asked the House to reimburse him for nearly $30,000 worth of camera equipment.
It also says Schock received mileage payments from the House and his campaign committees of nearly $140,000 for official and campaign-related travel between 2008 and October 2014. But it says that amounts to reimbursements for 150,000 miles more than his vehicles were actually driven.
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Does this mean his federal government benefits are now null and void? Also is any keeping track of convicted Illinois politicians by party?