INDEPENDENT NEWS

Congressman Aaron Schock, His Office & Instagram

Published: Thu 26 Feb 2015 04:14 PM
Congressman Aaron Schock, His Office & Instagram
By Jenny Rudd
Being born in the eighties, US Republican Congressman Aaron Schock knows that hanging out with celebs and travelling like a rock star are aspirational hobbies to his fellow generation X crew who are often labeled with a 'what's in it for me?' attitude. Schock has been showing everyone what's in it for him across his Instagram feed, with pictures of his office styled by an interior designer to emulate the ancient, Yorkshire mansions in Downton Abbey, cruising backstage with Jay-Z and Steve Tyler as well as cuddling up to Ariana Grande and leaping across glaciers. It all sounds pretty glamorous.
Backstage with Jay Z @S_C_ #GlobalCitizenFestival @GlblCtzn pic.twitter.com/6iSyV4ni4n— Aaron Schock (@aaronschock) September 28, 2014
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With the legend @iamstevent
A photo posted by Aaron Schock (@aaronschock) on Nov 5, 2014 at 5:56pm PST
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(and this one, Instagram Ariane Grande)
Java @starbucks w/ @arianagrande #coffeeforakiss Good luck tonight! #AmericanMusicAwards
A photo posted by Aaron Schock (@aaronschock) on Nov 23, 2014 at 3:57pm PST
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Unfortunately the Associated Press has checked out Instagram's geo targeted data as well as the Replican's flight records and shown that he probably shouldn't have been spending the tax payers' hard earned on private jets when he did. The rules changed in January 2013 to allow spending on private jets, but the AP investigation “showed airport stopovers and expenses later billed for air travel against Schock’s office and campaign records.” To the tune of $24,000 for eight flights in 2011 and 2012 aboard the private jet of a major campaign donor.
He has already been involved in another ethical enquiry into allegations he illegally elicited donations for another congressman and has claimed around $18,000 in mileage reimbursements since 2013. He said he likes to 'stay connected with my constituents.'
The generous congressman also treated the interns in his office to a sold out Katy Perry concert last year, passing off the nearly $2000 cost as a 'PAC fundraising event.' One of the interns posted on Instagram, 'You can’t say no when your boss invites you. Danced my butt off.' No mention of the funds raised at the concert, however.
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Jenny Rudd spent 6 years as a trader in London before returning to New Zealand in 2007 making the transition from numbers to letters by heading up the content team at MOSH, New Zealand's leading social media agency.

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