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New dates set for Schock replacement race while grand jury probe expands and lawsuit filed

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* The AP reports that we have some new special election dates to replace Aaron Schock…

A federal judge in Chicago signed a consent decree Tuesday scheduling a July 7 primary and a Sept. 10 general election. […]

Candidates may begin filing nominating papers for the office Wednesday.

GOP state Sen. Darin LaHood, the son of former Congressman and Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood, is considered the front-runner in the heavily Republican district.

* Meanwhile, innocent people often receive subpoenas to talk about what they know about not so innocent people. So, let’s hope this is the case here. AP…

Congress said Tuesday it has been told at least four staffers who worked for former Illinois Rep. Aaron Schock have been subpoenaed to testify before a federal grand jury as part of an ongoing probe into the congressman’s expenses.

The Justice Department issued its subpoenas in recent weeks to current and former Schock staffers as it examines expense accounts, his re-election campaign spending and his relationships with political donors. A Springfield, Illinois, grand jury began hearing testimony about the matter earlier this month.

The House clerk reported Tuesday the subpoenas were issued to Schock chief of staff Mark Roman, Peoria district office manager Bryan Rudolph, district chief of staff Dayne LaHood and executive assistant Sarah Rogers.

Dayne LaHood is Ray LaHood’s cousin.

* And…

A former donor to disgraced ex-Representative Aaron Schock will file a class action lawsuit against him Wednesday morning, in hopes of preventing the Illinois Republican from using campaign funds for his legal defense.

Howard Foster, a Chicago lawyer and former donor to the congressman, will be the lead—and so far, only—plaintiff in the case against Schock, two sources familiar with the matter tell The Daily Beast. He has retained Steve Berman, a Seattle lawyer famous for launching high-profile class action lawsuits against the likes of Exxon Mobil and Enron, to file the case Wednesday in Chicago Federal Court. […]

“We thought he was honest and had a bright future. We would not have supported him had we known he regularly violated House rules,” Foster wrote in a blog post last month. (Neither Foster nor Berman would speak on the record about the pending case.) Previewing the argument he will likely be making in the legal brief, Foster then wrote, “In light of the situation, he should not convert his campaign funds to any other purpose, such as his legal defense. For that he should have to pay out of his own pocket. Donors should get their money back on some sort of percentage basis, such as in a bankruptcy proceeding.” […]

According to Federal Election Commission records, Foster only made a single $500 donation to Schock’s congressional campaign fund. He and Berman hope to convince a federal judge to certify the case as a class action suit, which would then result in a letter being sent to every single one of Schock’s many donors across the country, informing them that they have the opportunity to become parties to the lawsuit.

Such a legal campaign—typically used against companies that make defective products—is unprecedented in the annals of American politics. As such, the plaintiffs will have to overcome a high legal burden and need to prove that Schock deliberately made false assertions to donors and raised their money for purposes other than the furtherance of his political career.

A source familiar with Schock’s operation told The Daily Beast that as to “the substantive claim that he defrauded donors for the purpose of living high, nobody can be able to prove that.” Calling the case “frivolous,” the source explained that Schock resigned over his misuse of public money, not campaign funds, the latter of which candidates have wide legal latitude in spending. “It’s classic trial lawyer bullshit and it’ll go nowhere.”

…Adding… The complaint is here.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 9:13 am

Comments

Wonder if Schock’s fundraiser will be “a part” of those seeking monies back for donors, or let the whole thing play out.

Knowing your fundraiser may turn on you, not a good way to market yourself to Jeb Bush, or anyone.

Maybe she can send an email… so I won’t worry…

Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 9:18 am
The class action lawsuit is frivolous and irresponsible.

I think it’s always sad when INNOCENT low-level and often poorly paid staffers get caught up in these things. Having to try and find legal representation while worrying about a paycheck and your future is cruel.

Comment by LincolnLounger Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 9:40 am
Amen to the staffers comment. I have dealt with Sarah Rogers. She is awesome

Comment by Peoria Guy Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 10:04 am
“According to Federal Election Commission records, Foster only made a single $500 donation to Schock’s congressional campaign fund. ”

Maybe it’s a contingency arrangement. Would it really pay to hire a high-profile class action lawyer to recover such a small amount?

Comment by Streator Curmudgeon Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 10:14 am
Foster appears to be a publicity monger, with a chance of some dollar or political payout.

The bigger,local funders are the ones who should be worried and possibly feel betrayed.

Comment by walker Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 10:15 am
Reminder to those testifying before the grand jury:

When the prosecutor asks you a question, assume they already know the answer. Any weasel-wording to the federales and you can get tuned up but good.

The boss jumped ship. It’s everyone for themselves.

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 10:22 am
If this continues developing into something as bad as it looks, then future Republican congressmen need to take heed and remain in office like the Democrats do until they drag you our of it.

Look at how the Democrats handle these scandals. They retain their political powers while fighting off criminal investigations as congressmen. If stepping down only makes the fires hotter, then we will be seeing any congressman investigated hanging on and not doing what is best for their constituents.

Take note GOP crooks. Stay in office like the Democratic crooks do!

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 10:30 am
Democrats need 626 signatures by April 20, Republicans need 1,014 signatures. Independent candidates and nominees of unqualified parties, need 12,602 signatures, due June 25.

You stay classy, Illinois political bigots.

Comment by Jeff Trigg Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 10:47 am
A little sympathy for Dayne LaHood. Schock hired him last fall and, six months later, LaHood is in front of a grand jury. He probably hadn’t figured out the district boundaries by the time his boss went into the crapper.

Comment by Mister Whipple Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 10:58 am
Hopefully voters don’t confuse
embattled Dayne LaHood with Darin LaHood, or the entire Shock corruption probe could sink the LaHood Dynasty. Thankfully Ray LaHood, Darin’s lobbyist father and Obama’ enabler, knows his way around scandal and can install his son in his rightful place of power.

Comment by 999exodus Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 11:10 am
– Obama’s enabler –

The fever is strong in this one.

Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 11:20 am
I’m sorry, but those dates are WAY too far into the future. I’m really starting to think that maybe it would’ve been better to leave this seat open until the primary in 2016 and then the general election in 2016. All of these counties - big and small - are going to spend a ton of cash for one election. That’s it. Congressional Republicans hold such a large majority that this isn’t going to make a hill of beans difference.

Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 11:42 am
A frivolous lawsuit which will be quickly ended on a motion to dismiss.

Comment by Formerpol Wednesday, Apr 15, 15 @ 2:16 pm