Schock strikes deal to have corruption case dropped

Updated 03/06/2019 06:00 PM ESTIn a stunning reversal, the Justice Department effectively dropped its corruption case against former Rep. Aaron Schock (R-Ill.) on Wednesday, agreeing to a settlement that would leave him with no criminal conviction if he pays $110,000 in restitution and taxes and stays out of legal trouble for six months.The unusual deal — under which Schock will admit to no criminal charge but his campaign committee will plead guilty to a misdemeanor — was struck after the Justice Department transferred the case out of the original prosecutor’s office in Springfield, Ill., and sent it to other prosecutors in Chicago.Story Continued BelowSchock was indicted in 2016 on 24 felony counts alleging that he fleeced taxpayers and campaign donors through false expense claims, including inflated mileage reimbursements, personal travel expenses and camera gear — and by using campaign funds to buy Super Bowl tickets that he sold online. Schock’s lawyers also complained repeatedly about conduct of the prosecutor who handled the case.A spokesman for the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago, Joe Fitzpatrick, defended the agreement to resolve the case, which was set to go to trial in June.Sign up for POLITICO Playbook and get the latest news, every morning — in your inbox.By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or alerts from POLITICO.