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<\/p>\nAaron Schock Finally Gets His Day in Court, Faces 24 Felony Charges<\/b><\/p>\n
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Disgraced anti-gay<\/a> former Illinois Congressman Aaron Schock (R) will be arraigned in federal court on Monday. Schock has been implicated by the federal government in a far-reaching corruption investigation that centers on Schock’s alleged misuse of government funds.<\/p>\n Schock’s troubles first began when it was revealed that he had unlawfully accepted design services for free so that his congressional office could be styled in the manner of Downton Abbey.<\/a><\/p>\n Schock faces 24 felony counts.<\/p>\n The Peoria Journal Star<\/em> reports: <\/a><\/p>\n The Peoria Republican was indicted last month<\/a> by a federal grand jury which spent 18 months looking at his financial dealings. He’s expected to plead not guilty at the 3:30 p.m. hearing, which will likely result in U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough setting his trial for sometime next spring.<\/p>\n More from The Chicago Tribune<\/em>: <\/a><\/p>\n The charges include wire fraud, mail fraud, theft of government funds, making false statements, filing false reports with federal election officials and filing false tax returns.<\/p>\n Usually, defendants waive their right to have the indictment read aloud in court — and Schock’s indictment runs 52 pages. Schock will be asked to enter a plea on Monday. Based on his oft-stated insistence that he is innocent, a “not guilty” plea is a good bet.<\/p>\n [Judge] Myerscough [who is presiding over the case] is a former Illinois appellate judge who considered running as a Democrat for the seat in Congress that Schock eventually won in 2008. President Barack Obama nominated her to the federal bench in 2010.<\/p>\n Myerscough on Friday denied the goverment’s request for a gag order in Schock’s criminal proceedings. Via Politico: <\/a><\/p>\n “The Government has not made the requisite showing here,” Myerscough wrote in an order issued late Friday afternoon<\/a>. “While this is a high-profile case that has and will generate a significant amount of publicity, the Court has no reason to believe at this point that the parties’ conduct poses a serious and imminent threat to the administration of justice.”<\/p>\n The post Aaron Schock Finally Gets His Day in Court, Faces 24 Felony Charges<\/a> appeared first on Towleroad<\/a>.<\/p>\nPREVIOUSLY: Anti-Gay Former GOP Rep. Aaron Schock Whines About Being ‘Poked, Prodded, and Probed’ – WATCH<\/a><\/em><\/h2>\n