Appeals court refuses to dismiss Schock corruption charges

In this April 18, 2018, photo, former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock walks out of the Dirksen Federal Building in Chicago. The 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago on Wednesday, May 30, 2018, refused to toss corruption charges against Schock, saying it can't assess whether his prosecution violated constitutional separation-of-powers clauses until after he goes to trial.

Rules, separation of powers focus of Schock appeal hearing

In this Nov. 10, 2016, file photo, former Illinois U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock talks to reporters in Peoria Heights, Ill. A federal appeals court in Chicago will hear oral arguments Wednesday, April 18, 2018, in Schock's corruption case as his lawyers seek to have all his charges dismissed.

The Latest: Court hears arguments in Aaron Schock appeal

A lawyer for former Republican Rep. Aaron Schock says prosecutors are aiming to be the first to imprison a former member of Congress over ambiguous rules the U.S. House set for itself. Attorney Benjamin Hatch made the arguments Wednesday before the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in Chicago as he seeks the dismissal of the corruption case against the former Illinois congressman Schock, who is charged with misusing government and campaign funds.

Federal court to hear argument in Aaron Schock appeal

A federal appeals court in Chicago will hear oral arguments in the corruption case of U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock as his lawyers seek to have all his charges dismissed. Wednesday's hearing at the 7th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals comes amid signs parts of the case against the Peoria Republican may be at risk of unraveling.

Justice Department says 1995 corruption ruling is wrong

The Justice Department says in a new filing in former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock's corruption case that a 1995 ruling that's long provided guidance in the prosecution of politicians is wrong. It argues that the ruling in the corruption case of another Illinois politician, Dan Rostenkowski, was wrong to conclude that prosecuting federal lawmakers based on ambiguous rules lawmakers wrote violates separation of powers.

Growing signs that Aaron Schock prosecution on shaky ground Source: AP

Growing sympathy for defense arguments, seeming confusion within the team of federal prosecutors and a disgruntled judge are among the signs that key portions of the corruption case against former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock may be at risk of unraveling. The question on which the outcome of the Illinois Republican's case may rest - and one an appeals court is currently mulling over - is whether prosecutors based their charges on ambiguous House rules in violation of separation-of-powers clauses in the U.S. Constitution.

2018 brings governor’s race, other big contests in Illinois

All statewide offices will be on the ballot on Nov. 8, but no contest will be as fevered i 1 2 or costly i 1 2 as the governor's race. Already, the candidates are raising and spending money at a pace that could make this the most expensive governor's race in U.S. history.

Judge tosses wire fraud allegation against former Rep. Schock

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Prosecutors in Aaron Schock Case: Investigators Didn’t Ask if He Was Gay

Federal prosecutors have filed a court document denying they or the FBI made inquiries into former Illinois Congressman Aaron Schock's sex life when investigating whether he misused government and campaign funds. Lawyers for Schock, who has been indicted on charges of diverting these funds for personal use, said in August that investigators asked inappropriate questions, including whether Schock is gay.

Aaron Schock pleads not guilty to federal charges Updated at

Former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock pleaded not guilty Monday afternoon to two dozen federal charges alleging he misused public money, lied about it and failed to file correct tax returns. During a 45-minute hearing that focused mostly on conditions for his bond, Schock, 35, said little except "Yes, your honor" or "No, your honor" to several questions by U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough, who will be presiding over the case.

Ex-Illinois US Rep. Schock pleads not guilty to funds misuse

Former Illinois Congressman Aaron Schock, who just two years ago was the future face of the Republican Party, pleaded not guilty Monday in federal court to charges that he misused government and campaign money for personal use. The 35-year-old Republican from Peoria pronounced his plea and gave short answers to questions by U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough, who set a trial date of Feb. 7. Appearing calm and dressed in a dark suit with thin stripes, the one-time formidable fundraiser and rising GOP star faces federal corruption charges alleging he used his position to spend lavishly on travel, World Series and Super Bowl tickets and other amenities of an extravagant lifestyle.

Ex-US Rep. Schock allegedly profited off voters’ DC visits

The indictment of a 35-year-old disgraced former Republican congressman jolted residents of his central Illinois district, shaken by prosecutors' claims that Aaron Schock illegally dipped into campaign and government coffers to subsidize a lavish lifestyle, including his Capitol Hill office done up in the style of "Downton Abbey." Perhaps more stunning was an allegation found on page 34 of the charging document: Schock's apparent willingness to pocket thousands of constituents' dollars by arranging annual Washington tours combined with meet-and-greets.

Attorneys for Aaron Schock ask judge to postpone arraignment

Attorneys for former Illinois Congressman Aaron Schock are asking a federal judge to postpone his arraignment on charges alleging he schemed to profit personally from his government job. In a request made Tuesday to U.S. District Judge Sue E. Myerscough, Schock's lawyers say a Nov. 21 arraignment will interfere with a planned international business trip by the Peoria Republican.

Aaron Schock Slapped With $10K Fine To Settle FEC Case

Disgraced former GOP Illinois Rep. Aaron Schock agreed to pay a $10,000 Federal Elections Commission fine for requesting $25,000 from former Majority Leader Eric Cantor's political action committee for another Illinois congressman's race in 2012. The law firm representing Schock, McGuireWoods, told The Chicago Tribune the settlement "was reached to avoid the delay and expense of litigation."