Breaking: GOP US Congressman Aaron Schock Resigns Amid Growing Financial Questions

Republican Congressman Aaron Schock, the target of increased investigations that began with his “Downton Abbey” inspired office decor, has resigned.

Aaron Schock has resigned.

The U.S. Congressman from Illinois has had his professional and personal life inspected by the media for years. He has been the subject of rumors about his sexuality, compounded by photographs he regularly posts to his Instagram account, causing him to close it to public visitors at one point last year.

But the press turned up the heat earlier this year when a reporter from the Washington Post stumbled into Schock’s Downton Abbey-themed office on Capitol Hill, and was asked to not report on it. The rest is history, including the ethics complaint filed against him for it. (Photos of the office.)

The Huffington Post reports “Schock has faced scrutiny in recent weeks over his use of taxpayer funds for lavish trips, events and a controversial office redecoration.”

Schock’s financial dealings have been inspected as well, including his sale of his home for hundreds of thousands of dollars above market value. 

UPDATE: Here’s Why Aaron Schock (Probably) Just Resigned From Congress

And just hours ago, the website Blue Nation Review published the second of a five-part exposé, titled, “Aaron Schock Claimed More than $200,000 in Personal Reimbursements from His Campaign Accounts.”

Shock, who is 33-years old, resigned, issuing a short statement.

“I do this with a heavy heart,” reads the statement. “Serving the people of the 18th District is the highest and greatest honor I have had in my life. I thank them for their faith in electing me and letting me represent their interests in Washington. I have given them my all over the last six years. I have traveled to all corners of the District to meet with the people I’ve been fortunate to be able to call my friends and neighbors.”

“But the constant questions over the last six weeks have proven a great distraction that has made it too difficultfor me to serve the people of the 18th District with the high standards that they deserve and which I have set for myself. I have always sought to do what’s best for my constituents and I thank them for the opportunity to serve,” he added.

 

Image by Randy von Liski via Flickr and a CC license