Representative Aaron Schock, a Republican from Illinois’ 18th Congressional District, has announced his resignation after questions were raised about his very fancy and spendy financial habits. Using the old “distraction” and “heavy heart” chestnuts, Schock said that effective March 31, he will be leaving the Downton Abbey-themed office that he dropped $40,000 of government money to construct. (He later repaid it in full.)
After the Washington Post reported on the unusually decorative office on Capitol Hill and the congressman’s refusal to talk about it on the record, some further digging revealed that Schock was actually spending a lot of his paycheck on things like private property, plane rides to Chicago Bears games, and tickets to Katy Perry concerts. As one of the most active members of Congress on social media, Schock often posted pictures from his globetrotting adventures, prompting many to wonder if this government employee ever gets any work done and, oh, by the way, who’s paying for all of this? Oh right — we are.
Six weeks of media scrutiny was enough for Mr. Schock. Here is his full statement:
“Today, I am announcing my resignation as a Member of the United States House of Representatives effective March 31st.
“I do this with a heavy heart. 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 difficult for 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.”
Schock served four terms after winning his latest election this past November. At 33 years old, he was the first member of Congress to have been born in the 1980s and is the youngest Congressman ever to resign from office. Or, as his generation would put it, the youngest to “peace out.”
Source: Washington Times, Chicago Tribune