Former Schock staffer dishes to FBI, alleging illegal flight on private jet

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Yesterday, POLITICO reported that a former aide to disgraced Congressman Aaron Schock told the FBI earlier this week that, while in Congress, Schock and two employees flew on a private jet with an insurance company executive.

If the trip did take place and go unreported, it would likely be in violation of federal law.

As POLITICO outlines:

Benjamin Cole, a former senior adviser to Schock, a Republican from Illinois, told the FBI in a sworn affidavit that he and Mark Roman, Schock’s former chief of staff, flew on a private plane in April 2014 from Washington Dulles International Airport to Peoria International Airport with Michael J. Stone, the president and chief operating officer of RLI Insurance Corp., a large specialty insurance company based in Schock’s hometown Peoria. Stone and other RLI employees were financial boosters of Schock’s political career.

Earlier this year, when Schock’s numerous other spending improprieties began to emerge, Cole reportedly approached Roman to say he was “concerned our travel on the RLI Corp Flight may have violated federal election laws, congressional ethics rules, or both.” Roman promised Cole he would follow up to make sure the flight was properly reimbursed, but it appears that it never was.

For his part, Schock raised nearly $150,000 from Stone and employees of RLI for his reelection campaigns and political action committees during his time in Congress.

The affidavit represents only the latest of many allegations of financial impropriety by America’s bougiest ex-congressman. From double-billing the government for reimbursements on mileage driven for official business to operating a donor-driven real-estate market for himself; from previously-revealed unreported flights to lavish trips to England, India and other decadent locales; Schock never bothered to pretend he was following the rules, inviting scrutiny.

As POLITICO notes, those findings are all being presented to a grand jury that’s meeting in Illinois to consider whether to bring charges against Schock. A number of former aides have been called to testify.

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