Feds raid Schock's downstate campaign office; another staffer gets subpoena

WASHINGTON — Federal agents on Thursday raided a downstate campaign office used by former Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., while a former paid intern reported being subpoenaed in the federal criminal probe of the ex-lawmaker.

Peoria Journal-Star political writer Chris Kaergardreported that more than a dozen federal agents spent about six-and-a-half hours at Schock’s Junction City office, loading material they took from the office onto trucks.

A federal grand jury sitting in Springfield is hearing testimony about Schock’s spending of government and campaign money, his relations with donors and other business dealings.

Anthony DeThomas worked for Schock for less than a year in 2014 as a legislative correspondent and is one of at least eight staffers who have been asked to testify. In addition, former Schock associates and others have been interviewed by federal agents and have appeared before the grand jury.

DeThomas now is employed by Rep. Bill Shuster, R-Pa. House rules call for employees and members to notify the House when they receive a subpoena and at 12:47 p.m. Thursday, the notice from DeThomas about being asked to testify before a federal grand jury sitting in Springfield was read on the House floor.

From the House floor proceedings:

“The House received a communication from Anthony DeThomas, Legislative Correspondent. Pursuant to Rule VIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, Mr. DeThomas notified the House that he had been served with a subpoena for testimony, issued by the United States District Court for the Central District of Illinois and that after consultation with counsel, he had determined that compliance with the subpoena is consistent with the privileges and rights of the House.