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* Doug Finke last night…
A former top aide to now-resigned U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock said Tuesday that he will have to return to Springfield next month to testify at a grand jury investigating Schock.
Ben Cole, former communications director for the former congressman, was in Springfield because he had been subpoenaed to testify before the grand jury.
However, Cole said upon leaving the federal building Tuesday afternoon that a prior commitment limited the amount of time he had available to testify, so federal prosecutors allowed him to return to another grand jury session next month.
“The grand jury has been continued until next month,” Cole said. “Because of my tight travel schedule, the U.S. attorney has graciously allowed me to continue my testimony for another date.
* Lynn Sweet last night…
The three staffers in Springfield were Mark Roman, Schock’s chief of staff; Ben Cole, Schock’s former communications director, and Bryan Rudolph, the manager of Schock’s district office in Peoria. […]
Cole said he was handed a subpoena March 19 by Springfield-based FBI agents who were in Washington to talk to potential witnesses.
The agents talked to him about his “work for the congressman” as well as asking questions about “the policies of the office.”
* Politico…
The speed with which the federal government has forged ahead with the grand jury has surprised insiders in Schock’s circle as well as onlookers in Washington. And the probe appears to be at full throttle. According to several people familiar with the matter, the government is homing in on his office’s finance and reimbursement practices.
Yeah, man. This is going really fast.
* Meanwhile, I’m told by US Sen. Mark Kirk’s people that Kirk has endorsed state Sen. Darin LaHood in the special election.
And tea partier Mike Flynn is passing petitions.
* Also, a poorly informed second-tier Democratic candidate is emerging…
Springfield School Board member Adam Lopez says he wants to be the Democratic nominee in the coming special election to take the seat of former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, in the 18th Congressional District.
“Some of my close friends have always known I want to run for Congress,” Lopez said Wednesday. He said he had planned on running for Illinois House against new state Rep. Tim Butler, R-Springfield, but his focus is on Congress now that Schock resigned.
Lopez, 32, a financial representative with County Financial — selling insurance and investment products — also said he has hoped to be able to keep that job and not take the $174,000 annual congressional salary, if that is allowed by Congress and his employer.
However, House ethics rules put a cap on outside income of House members, to $27,255 in 2015. And even if a member of the House were to return their salary, the cap would apparently still apply.
Hilarious.
posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 3:04 pm
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Fast ain’t the word. Secret Santa has moved on from reporters and is now passing out presents with big bows on them to the federales.
Geez, somebody has put a lot of work into this.
Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 3:10 pm
“What if, let’s say, I defer my outside income, like, put it into, like, a CD, let it roll over and stuff, and never touch it…I got my agency really hummin’ good…”
My take?
This Dope is a pigeon for some unscrupulous campaign charlatan.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 3:12 pm
To Schock developments,
Going this fast, the G knows what they want, who has the info they want, and seem to be prepared.
You three and the “rest”, you won’t be fooling anyone, so the only story to get straight is the truth.
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 3:18 pm
My heart breaks for Bryan Rudolph.
Comment by Team Sleep Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 3:22 pm
Man…. When the drip…drip…drip…was happening we all speculated …But, uh… This escalated quickly! Honest question: Through this process, will we find out who was the “ring leader” of this information? Again, during the early drip phase, they knew where all the needles in the stacks were. After a certain point, it was just, well easy.
Comment by Walter Mitty Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 3:38 pm
I love today’s politics where candidates think turning down benefits and now salaries is necessary to get elected. To me, it lends itself to more corruption by our elected officials.
Regarding Adam, he is a nice kid but he needs a LOT of seasoning before trying for congress.
Comment by Norseman Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 3:40 pm
Isn’t Lopez busy making sure the teachers at SPS186 are dressed the way he feels they should be? I mean it’s not like the district has more pressing issues or that the teacher dress code enforcement issue could’ve been handled without going to the press.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 3:46 pm
Usually speed in these cases means a lot of cooperation. There appears to be a consensus to get this over with in a hurry.
Comment by A guy Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 3:49 pm
One reason Lopez “always” saw teachers in jeans was because he always visited on Fridays.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 3:51 pm
===Usually speed in these cases means a lot of cooperation. There appears to be a consensus to get this over with in a hurry.===
Whaaa?
They are getting subpoenad.
The Feds are reaching out, no one is walking in if they are being served.
Just sayin’
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 3:53 pm
OW, perhaps, but not necessarily. Sometimes the Feds serve subpoenas so the witness can get cover their “cooperation.”
Comment by Concerned Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 4:00 pm
It’s hilarious until you stop and realize that this clown is making decisions on how to run schools. The potential damage he could do in Congress is far short of the damage he can do right now, and with children at stake.
Comment by Anonymous Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 4:13 pm
I don’t think Lopez could even get reelected for school board, so the higher aspirations are a joke.
His latest comments continue to show what a dope he is.
Comment by dog catcher Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 4:56 pm
I wonder what accounts for the fired Cole’s “tight travel schedule?” Writing a book on mating rituals at zoos around the country?
Hard to believe he would get any more flack work given the smooth way he handled his job with Schock.
Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 5:10 pm
Lopez: come back when you learn how to play the game.
In the meantime, stay in the minors.
Comment by Langhorne Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 5:57 pm
Since we’re “just sayin’” — here’s some other unsolicited advice:
After receiving a subpoena from a Federal officer, speak to no one but your attorney about the case. Let the reporters talk to your hand until the trial is over.
(Sorry Rich)
Comment by walker Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 6:03 pm
- Concerned -,
You may be right, but the remarks that the Grand Jury will still be convening the following month gives me the thought it’s nut really about whose “rolling” right now, but they can get to roll over the next 30 days, starting with subpoenas to have “the talk”… testify, corroborate, turn witness? Up to them…
Seats on the bus might be getting sorted out, but no one is sitting(?)
Comment by Oswego Willy Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 8:08 pm
The first “Downton Abbey” office story ran in the Post on Feb. 2.
After about six weeks of new and progressively more serious charges seemingly every day, Schock resigned on March 17.
Subpoenas have been going out for a week, grand jury testimony on April 7.
From first sign of trouble to resignation to a grand jury in a little more two months?
Nothing moves this fast, no matter who’s “cooperating.” Everything was handed over with a bow on it.
Most comprehensive and effective takedown, ever.
Somebody’s going to take credit for it, sooner or later.
Comment by Wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 8:48 pm
I sure hope the FBI had time for a thorough investigation of Schock’s real estate dealings and campaign finance stuff. The mileage reimbursement is low-hanging fruit. I hope they’re not rushing just to get him for that.
The apparent coordination between leaking the opposition research and starting a grand jury is kind of troubling though. They should take their time and get this right.
Now we need to know who was behind the political hit job, if only to be sure it wasn’t someone in the Justice Department.
Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Apr 8, 15 @ 10:20 pm