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Court Records: Schock Tried To Dodge Federal Subpoena

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) -- Federal court records unsealed Monday indicate that former Rep. Aaron Schock was issued a grand jury subpoena seeking campaign and congressional records the day before he resigned his Illinois congressional seat.

The records released by U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough also reveal that Schock in April filed an emergency motion to quash the subpoena, calling it "oppressive and unreasonable," and accusing the government of misconduct.

The records show that from April 9 through June 8, Schock refused to produce any congressional or campaign documents, and has since asserted various privileges to try to limit prosecutors' access to some of his papers.

Some of the released documents were heavily redacted, and many are still sealed.

Lawyers for the U.S. House filed a friend of the court brief on July 28 in response to a Department of Justice contention that some of the records produced by Schock and his staff do not belong to him. However, the House lawyers said lawmakers also are covered by the Fifth Amendment, which protects against self-incrimination.

The House brief contends Schock's records are protected. The brief made clear those backing it aren't taking the former congressman's side.

FBI agents searched Schock's office with a warrant on June 4, carting off boxes of material and at least one laptop computer.

The 34-year-old Schock stepped down in March amid mounting scrutiny of his spending, including the "Downton Abbey"-style redecoration of his Capitol Hill office, travel on private aircraft and unreported trips abroad.

The court documents show federal prosecutors claim a Peoria car dealer allowed Schock to drive a Chevy Tahoe at no cost, even after the dealer purchased it back. They also show Schock is paying legal fees for several former staffers through his campaign funds.

(© 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)

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