U.S. Congressman Aaron Schock says he’s resigning March 31st following weeks of intense press scrutiny. The news comes after questions surrounding Schock’s travel expenses and relationships with donors:
Two weeks ago in front of reporters Schock tried to reconcile using tax-payer funds for chartered planes to fly across his district, and for posting pictures from around the world on social media:
“I recognize that this can come across as out of touch with how most of my constituents live.”
But since then, a flurry of news reports brought up questions from using a shell company to benefit from real estate deals with donors, to a potential fresh ethics investigation and weighty questionable mileage reimbursements. Schock says he’s leaving at the end of the month because those questions proved too difficult for him to serve.
The 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."