Indicted ex-congressman claims government lawyers made inappropriate inquiries about his sex life
Aaron Schock/Wikimedia Commons
A dismissal motion filed Tuesday on behalf of former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock claims federal prosecutors and agents asked inappropriate questions about his sexuality and sex life, causing potential prejudice through “salacious innuendo.”
The motion claims prosecutors questioned at least a dozen witnesses about Schock’s sleeping arrangements and relationships and whether he is gay, report the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune and the Associated Press.
The “irrelevant and highly invasive questions” were inappropriate and prejudicial, the motion says.
The former Republican congressman from Illinois is accused of defrauding the federal government and his campaign committees by submitting false invoices for office redecorating and personal expenses. He had redecorated his congressional office with a Downton Abbey motif.
Charges include wire fraud, theft of government funds and falsification of federal filings.
Defense lawyers argue in court documents that House rules on spending are unclear, according to the Tribune account.
“How much documentation is required for mileage vouchers? Ambiguous,” defense lawyers wrote. “When is travel official as opposed to personal? Ambiguous. What does ‘nominal’ value mean? Ambiguous.”
