The father of Congressman Aaron Schock – who resigned yesterday amid growing financial questions – just gave an interview that was, well, extremely candid.
GOP Congressman Aaron Schock has had a rough six weeks, ever since a a Washington Post reporter stumbled upon his Downton Abbey-inspired congressional office. That revelation, and that it was “free,” setting off charges of ethics violations, led to the media scouring Schock’s congressional, campaign, and personal financial records. What they found led to his resignation.
It seems the growing scandal has had an understandable impact of the Congressman’s father. Dr. Richard Schock gave an on-camera interview to ABC7 Chicago’s Ben Bradley, during which he unloaded many opinions that his son might have preferred his dad hadn’t shared.Â
“Two years from now he’ll be successful, if he’s not in jail,†Dr. Shock told reporters. “If they’re going to convict him on paperwork, then they’re going to convict him. That’s their privilege. They’re out to get him and they’re making issues out of things that really shouldn’t be issues.â€
LOOK:Â Here’s Why Aaron Schock (Probably) Just Resigned From Congress
The elder Schock also stated, “Yeah, he’s broke the law,” but added that most of the accusations are “lies and innuendoes.” He chalked up Rep. Schock reportedly being reimbursed for 90,000 miles he did not drive as “some variances in paperwork” and that he “got a little careless.”
Asked what the media investigation “is really all about,” Dr. Shock offered a lengthy analysis.
“What this is really about is that Aaron has been very successful. Aaron is a very hard worker. Aaron is very popular. Aaron is a little different. He wears stylish clothing, and yet he’s not gay. And it makes people — and he’s not married, and he’s not running around with women. So, everybody’s throwing up their arms; they can’t figure out Aaron. So, he must crooked, so attack him, bring him down, because he’s doesn’t fit into our picture. He hasn’t done anything to hurt people.â€
Here’s a short clip of those comments:
Describing why he thinks the Congressman resigned, Dr. Schock explained that his son is “a fighter, but it’s not about him anymore. It’s about me and a lot of his friends, and a lot of his supporters, and they’re all being attacked now. Good honest people, good Christian honest people who have good honest names… He doesn’t want to go on. He doesn’t want to bring them into court and have to be subpoenaed and everything.”
He also mentioned that Aaron “built a house with a friend, who’s about the same age, maybe younger than Aaron.”
Dr. Schock took a swing at President Obama’s travel, but said he thought the attacks on Hillary Clinton’s email are “absolutely crazy.”
“Two years from now he’ll be successful, if he’s not in jail,†Dr. Shock said. “If they’re going to convict him on paperwork, then they’re going to convict him. That’s their privilege. They’re out to get him and they’re making issues out of things that really shouldn’t be issues.â€
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Image: Screenshot via ABC7 Chicago
Hat tip: Washington Blade