PeoriaStory

Quest Charter School, Glen Barton, Aaron Schock and Turkey -- the connections.

PEORIA, IL -- On Oct. 30, the newspaper USA Today released an in-depth investigation of junkets to Turkey for members of Congress, paid for by front groups of the Gulen movement, the Turkish group of questionable motives.

That's the group that operated the Peoria charter school Quest,  an initiative paid for by taxpayers and Glen Barton, former Caterpillar CEO. 

Barton is also the guy behind the horrible plan to ruin Peoria's Riverfront Park with 4-story luxury apartments.  His plan has been approved by the Peoria City Council (helped along by campaign contributions to some of those voting 'yes,' see story below), but awaiting state and federal approval.

Now it turns out that former disgraced Congressman Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, was on one of those lawmakers on junkets to Turkey.

Check out the link above -- read down to see the actual documents, and a photo of Schock at a Quest classroom.(Thanks to the blogger who researched this!)

And don't forget the Quest kids were treated to yearly to trips to Turkey -- not London, Paris or Rome -- a situation criticized by District 150 activist Terry Knapp. 

The Gulen group contract to operate Quest ended last spring, so the school officials finally came to their senses.  Or maybe because Schock  left Congress?

Good riddance to both.

-- Elaine Hopkins

 

Schock pleads the Fifth and more...

PEORIA, IL -- Former 18th District Congressman Aaron Schock is pleading the Fifth Amendment and also asking for immunity, according to a story in the Aug. 11 Peoria Journal Star.

These juicy facts are buried in the story, but there they are.

Will Schock go to jail?.See this story in the Journal Star, an update on the earlier story.

Oh well, maybe he will become an advocate for criminal justice system reform.

Meanwhile the election to replace him takes place on Sept. 10.  Early voting began Aug. 3. The candidates are Republican Darrin LaHood and Democrat Rob Mellon.

Vote for Mellon. He's smart and way better than LaHood, who is favored to win in the gerrymandered district.

Candidate forums are tentatively scheduled for Aug. 27 and 31. Watch for them.  LaHood is trying to ditch them because he's got nothing to gain from them but we'll see.

 -- Elaine Hopkins

Demos in the 18th District

PEORIA, IL -- The most significant question facing voters in the July 7 special Democratic primary is who can defeat the Republican winner, likely state Sen. Darin LaHood. 

The two Democrats seeking to become their party's nominee met June 7 at the Peoria Labor Temple to discuss issues and answer audience questions.
Here's the Peoria Journal Star's account of the event.

Here is a recording of the event. 

 

Demo forum

They are Rob Mellon of Quincy and Adam Lopez of Springfield. Both are good candidates, strong on the issues that Democrats care about.  But Mellon seems the most likely to eek out a surprise win over a Republican.

He's a little older, a little more mature, knows a little more about the details of foreign policy issues, and has a military background, likely important to the conservative voters of the 18th District.

This is a gerrymandered district set up to give former disgraced Cong. Aaron Schock a free win. The winner of the Sept. 10 election will replace him.

At the event, Mellon stated the obvious:  that it will be a low turnout election, so a group of dedicated Demos could carry it.

Lopez stated that he is the only pro-choice candidate of either party in the race.  But afterwards Mellon said he's personally opposed to abortion but like other Catholic politicians, he will not vote to overturn Roe v. Wade or restrict access to abortions. Fair enough.

Both candidates are worried about income inequality, lack of jobs and want to help unions organize.  Mellon is the only union member of the candidates, as he's a high school history teacher in Quincy.  It shows in his understanding of the issues.

He also wants a Constitutional amendment to get the big money out of politics.  It will be a struggle, he said, but other progressive issues also have been struggles, from civil rights to women's rights.  "We have to be successful," he said. "It seems like we're losing our democracy to (monied) oligarchs."

Lopez said he has a special interest in immigration issues and making citizenship easier to obtain, since his ancestors were immigrants.

Both want to raise the minimum wage and oppose abusive trade agreements.

It's refreshing to have two good candidates running in this race.  Even if both ultimately lose, they will have gained valuable experience for next time.

The other two Republicans in that primary are Mike Flynn and Don Reints.

 -- Elaine Hopkins

 

Schock allegations

PEORIA, IL -- There's a front page story in the Chicago Tribute today May 25,  about the investigation into former Cong. Aaron Schock's financial and campaign dealings.

It's under a paywall (why oh why do the newspapers think they can make more money from a paywall than from increasing their readers without one, to appeal to advertisers?).  The Los Angeles Daily News has it for free.

Here it is.

UPDATE 5/26/15:  The Chicago Sun Times has more information now, including Schock's links to Peoria area donors and Marco Rubio. 

UPDATE 5//28/15:  There's more from Politico: lots of high flying.

UPDATE 5/29/15: Compare the above stories with the PJS story of today, where no local names appear!

 -- Elaine Hopkins

Schock's final words and actions

PEORIA, IL -- Cong. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, gave his farewell speech on March 26. See the PJS's fawning coverage of it.

He compared himself to Lincoln!  Really.

Then he broke House rules,something the PJS omitted.  He took a photo in the chambers, and brought with him a cup of coffee to drink, according to a website that doesn't like him.

Uh huh.  Meanwhile back in Peoria, his pals are sweating, as the FBI is delivering subpoenas, according to political insiders.  

The press is not done with Schock either.  Peoria County Democratic Chairman Billy Halstead said he received a call from the Associated Press on March 26, just as Schock was trying to redeem himself with a farewell speech. They're still digging, Halstead said.

Nevertheless, will we soon see Schock on Dancing With the Stars, a la Tom DeLay?  Maybe.  Schock can always inform on others, like a low level drug dealer does, to avoid jail.

The millennial generation poster boy, who has lived a life of affluence thanks to his family background, and who seemingly has no respect for the rules others live by, may in the end beat the rap by sending his former pals to prison, or bankrupting them with legal bills.

Then there's the heir apparent, at least in Peoria, state Sen. Darin LaHood.

The same LaHood who was three times censured for prosecutor misconduct  by federal judges in Las Vegas, Nevada. Guess he's a slow learner.

Here's the PJS editorial on that, and the USA Today story on it. Stay tuned.

 -- Elaine Hopkins 

Schock has resigned

PEORIA, IL -- Cong. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, has resigned, effective March 31, news media outlets say.

The smoking gun in their investigations into Schock's finances was released shortly before he resigned, according to Politico. Here it is:

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/03/aaron-schock-resigns-116153.html

He billed the taxpayers for way more mileage than he drove in his car, investigators found.  Last time I heard, that's called theft.

The drip, drip, drip of scrutiny into Schock's spending and insider real estate deals with supporters was nothing compared with this. 

Now what? 

All the money his local political machine spent to bolster his career has come to naught. I'll bet they are furious.

All the money Schock, 33, showered on local Republican candidates, part of his political machine, will stop. That's a good thing since sign pollution from these local candidates was irksome.

According to an insider, Shock's local machine running for the Peoria City Council in the April 7 election  includes his hand picked head of the Peoria Republican party, Katherine Coyle, along with Eric Turner and Jim Montelongo (who is not running for the city council just now, a commenter has pointed out.  There are so many, it's hard to keep track...).

Now they're on their own. 

And who will replace Schock?  Odds are on Darin LaHood, Ray LaHood's son, whose showing in his failed race for Peoria County States Attorney was not impressive. He then was appointed to the Illinois Senate in a safely Republican district (re: gerrymandered), then ran for the seat and won without opposition.

That's been a sweet deal for him, but he lacks the brains, talent and charm to climb the political ladder. He's very conservative, so his votes on key issues will be Schock redux. Or worse.

So good bye, Aaron.  Too bad you screwed up. Enjoy Wall Street, rooming with Rod Blagojevich, or wherever you land..

The end, according to Politico

 -- Elaine Hopkins

 

Aaron Schock: damaged goods

PEORIA, IL -- Who would have believed that Cong. Aaron Schock's high flying lifestyle would being him down!

Though his voters may still adore him, he is now damaged goods, and not because of his awful voting record.

When he's not absent from Congress, Schock, R-Peoria, votes against the environment, Social Security, Medicare, public TV, women's rights, gay rights, labor rights, etc., faithfully following the Republican agenda.

But his ambitions for the U.S. Senate or the governor's office may be fatally doomed from his improper mixing of tax funds and campaign funds for personal fun and games. 

That's the implication of a Politico article.

Even more serious, this kind of thing sent Cong. Jesse Jackson, Jr. to jail.  Is the U.S. attorney reading the media accounts of Schock? Will there be an investigation? 

Stay tuned,

 -- Elaine Hopkins 

Schock and Diana and the Fryes... hummm

UPDATE 4/30/14 -- Grimm has been arrested, and now see this column about Schock, Grimm, and a Peoria couple named Frye! 

http://downwithtyranny.blogspot.com/2014/04/will-aaron-schock-be-collateral-damage.html

The swamp grows even murkier.

  - Elaine Hopkins 

PEORIA, IL -- The widespread news coverage of the forthcoming indictment of Cong. Michael Grimm, a New York Republican, rings a bell -- a connection to Cong. Aaron Schock, Peoria Republican of the 18th Congressional District in Illinois.

It seems that the person accused of illegal campaign contributions to Grimm also gave contributions to Schock in a manner that seems quite similar, according to news sources.

Here's the story, from Roll Call: "Diana Durand, of Houston, Texas, was arrested last Friday and accused of a contribution scheme to use the names of others to funnel $10,000 to the 2010 campaign of Rep. Michael Grimm, R-N.Y. She allegedly lied to federal agents about her actions. Rep. Grimm’s 2009-2010 campaign finance records show he received $41,550 from contributors in Texas, including $22,700 from employees of Sun Coast Resources.

"Durand is also accused of funneling other funds to a second candidate. Durand, an employee of Sun Coast Resources, who contributed $2,400 to Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., is accused of giving $4,800 to co-worker to be a ‘straw donor’ and asking the money be passed on in contributions to Rep. Schock. Schock’s campaign finance records shows he received $13,309 from contributors in Texas, including several who also gave to Grimm."

Will the Peoria Journal Star follow this money?  Don't count on it.

  -- Elaine Hopkins 

Schock and campaign funds... what's really going on here?

PEORIA, IL -- Cong. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, has made the news again, this time not for a half naked photo spread but for questions about his campaign contributors. 

One of them was just arrested in Houston, Texas for campaign contribution violations.

Here's the full story, from the Chicago Tribune.

The story also summarizes his other questionable campaign money issues. 

 -- Elaine Hopkins

 

UPDATE:  Another controversy involving Schock has made the national news media.

Read it here.

 

Two Democrats say they are challenging Schock

PEORIA, IL -- First it was Republican turned Democrat Darrel Miller, 60, of Danvers, a McLean County farmer. (Scroll down on the link to Sept. 19.)

Now it's a Quincy Democrat who is gathering signatures to run.

Both want to challenge the incumbent Cong. Aaron Schock, R-Peoria, for the 18th Congressional District, a huge district of supposedly Republican voters that includes the northside of Peoria.

The Quincy challenger is Rob Mellon, 42, a history teacher at Quincy High School and US Army veteran.(The link is to a good newspaper story on Mellon.)

This is good news, as Miller is a questionable candidate given his background.

If both of their signature efforts pan out, there will be a Democratic party primary for this race, where we will learn more about the candidates.

 -- Elaine Hopkins