Oct. 15--Ex-Rep. Aaron Schock, the target of a federal grand jury probe, paid more than $900,000 in legal bills with campaign funds over the last three months, bringing his total in legal fees for the year to nearly $1.95 million, a report filed Thursday shows.
On top of that, his campaign treasury still owes nearly $750,000 in legal fees to the Washington, D.C., firm of Jones Day, according to the report to the Federal Election Commission.
Schock, 34, a Peoria Republican, quit Congress in March amid questions about his use of his office allowance and campaign cash. Areas of scrutiny include large reimbursements for auto mileage, a "Downton Abbey"-style redo of his Capitol Hill office, travel on private aircraft and unreported trips abroad.
A federal grand jury in Springfield has been hearing from former Schock aides and other witnesses since April.
Schock's latest campaign-finance report shows a balance of nearly $1.18 million on Sept. 30.
Schock has paid several law firms and consultants. The biggest payout during the last three months was $500,000 on Sept. 26 to his primary law firm, McGuireWoods, which this year has taken in $1 million from the former legislator.
kskiba@tribpub.com
