by Randa Morris
This week the US Justice Department announced
that it intends to charge Democratic Senator, Bob Menendez. Menendez is
accused of accepting gifts, including lavish vacations, in return for
political favors. Good. If Menendez is corrupt, and I’ve no doubt he is,
then he needs to be removed from office and held accountable for his
crimes. My only question is, why is it taking the Justice Department so
long to bring charges against Illinois Congressman Aaron Schock?
Schock is currently serving his third term in Congress. Yet, the first allegations of corruption against him surfaced in 2009. That year he used money from his election campaign to pay for things like a flight on a sea plane and an expensive hotel in Greece. While travel expenses can be covered with campaign funds, those expenses must be related to official campaign activities. Unless Schock was attempting to recruit foreign voters or solicit foreign donations to his election campaign, there’s no way spending money on travel to Greece was legal.
Schock repaid the money he spent on his trip to Greece, but questions about his ethics have only compounded since then.
In 2012, an ethics complaint filed against Schock by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) alleges that Schock attempted to solicit a $25,000 contribution from House Majority Leader, Eric Cantor. The money was to go to a super PAC backing Schock’s campaign. The only problem is that it is illegal for federal officeholders to solicit donations over $5,000 on behalf of a super PAC.
Following a review by the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE ) the House Ethics Committee also began an investigation. In December of 2014, the investigation was extended.
More recently, Schock again made headlines in February, after unveiling his newly remodeled ‘Downton Abbey’ style office. The lavish furnishings and extravagant interior redesign was valued at $40,000.
According to CREW:
Menendez will soon be facing federal charges, all of which appear to relate to undisclosed in-kind gifts of travel from a long-time friend, Salomon Melgen.
According to the Associated Press, Schock has a long list of questionable travel expenses, including trips to Saudi Arabia and London, where he enjoyed the horse races and attended events at both Windsor and Buckingham Palaces. Additionally, it seems as if taxpayers may have picked up the tab for a whole lot of other outlandishly extravagant stuff, from expensive personal cigars to Taylor Swift concert tickets.
Additionally, Schock has spent a shockingly large amount of taxpayer money on expenses paid to some of his largest campaign contributors. The Associated Press found that between 2011 and February of this year, Schock had spent more than $40,000 for travel on private planes, owned by donors to his campaign. Prior to January, 2013, House rules prohibited representatives from using office funds to pay for travel on private air craft at all. Yet the AP reports that the majority of Schock’s payments were made before that date. For details on individual expenses, who was paid and how much, click here.
CREW has also asked the OCE to investigate a real estate deal, in which Schock was paid more than $100,000 over market value, for a property he sold to another of his campaign donors.
Schock is currently serving his third term in Congress. Yet, the first allegations of corruption against him surfaced in 2009. That year he used money from his election campaign to pay for things like a flight on a sea plane and an expensive hotel in Greece. While travel expenses can be covered with campaign funds, those expenses must be related to official campaign activities. Unless Schock was attempting to recruit foreign voters or solicit foreign donations to his election campaign, there’s no way spending money on travel to Greece was legal.
Schock repaid the money he spent on his trip to Greece, but questions about his ethics have only compounded since then.
In 2012, an ethics complaint filed against Schock by Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) alleges that Schock attempted to solicit a $25,000 contribution from House Majority Leader, Eric Cantor. The money was to go to a super PAC backing Schock’s campaign. The only problem is that it is illegal for federal officeholders to solicit donations over $5,000 on behalf of a super PAC.
Following a review by the Office of Congressional Ethics (OCE ) the House Ethics Committee also began an investigation. In December of 2014, the investigation was extended.
More recently, Schock again made headlines in February, after unveiling his newly remodeled ‘Downton Abbey’ style office. The lavish furnishings and extravagant interior redesign was valued at $40,000.
According to CREW:
The redesign featured lavish accoutrements, including a crystal chandelier, a gold wall sconce, and arrangements of pheasant feathers. The redesign was provided by Anne Brahler, an interior decorator from Illinois, and her firm, Euro Trash. A member of Rep. Schock’s staff told the Post Ms. Brahler “offered her services for free.” Ms. Brahler also redesigned Rep. Schock’s previous congressional office.If you’ve been following the case against Senator Menendez, you’re probably already aware that it is illegal for federal officeholders to accept gifts valued at more than $50.00.
Menendez will soon be facing federal charges, all of which appear to relate to undisclosed in-kind gifts of travel from a long-time friend, Salomon Melgen.
According to the Associated Press, Schock has a long list of questionable travel expenses, including trips to Saudi Arabia and London, where he enjoyed the horse races and attended events at both Windsor and Buckingham Palaces. Additionally, it seems as if taxpayers may have picked up the tab for a whole lot of other outlandishly extravagant stuff, from expensive personal cigars to Taylor Swift concert tickets.
Additionally, Schock has spent a shockingly large amount of taxpayer money on expenses paid to some of his largest campaign contributors. The Associated Press found that between 2011 and February of this year, Schock had spent more than $40,000 for travel on private planes, owned by donors to his campaign. Prior to January, 2013, House rules prohibited representatives from using office funds to pay for travel on private air craft at all. Yet the AP reports that the majority of Schock’s payments were made before that date. For details on individual expenses, who was paid and how much, click here.
CREW has also asked the OCE to investigate a real estate deal, in which Schock was paid more than $100,000 over market value, for a property he sold to another of his campaign donors.
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