April 21--A member of former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock's staff who went along on a luxurious trip to London during the Royal Ascot races in 2011 has been served with a subpoena to testify before a grand jury meeting in Illinois, according to an announcement Monday in the House of Representatives.
Shea Ledford is the fifth staff member from Schock's old congressional office to have told House officials they have received a subpoena to give testimony.
A federal grand jury meeting in Springfield began reviewing allegations April 7 against Schock, 33, a Peoria Republican who quit Congress on March 31 after a series of news stories about his spending and travels.
Financial institutions and former Schock staffers also have received subpoenas, sources told the Tribune.
Ledford has been a district special assistant in Schock's House office since April 2014, according to LegiStorm, which tracks congressional data. The office continues to be open, managed by the House clerk's office, to serve constituents.
Ledford also was paid by Schock's campaign and during the first three months of this year received $3,705 in salary from Schock's campaign treasury, Federal Election Commission reports show.
Ledford's wife, Charde, was a staff assistant and receptionist in Schock's congressional office from January to October of 2009, according to LegiStorm.
Politico reported that Ledford accompanied Schock on the London trip to the horse races, which Schock never reported in disclosure statements.
The other staffers who have informed the House of being subpoenaed are Dayne LaHood, Sarah Rogers, Mark Roman and Bryan Rudolph.
A House rule requires employees who have been subpoenaed in matters relating to official functions of the chamber to notify the House speaker, and news of the subpoena is later made public. The rule does not apply to former staffers, so additional such subpoenas also may have been issued.
kskiba@tribpub.com
