Federal prosecutors fired back at former congressman Aaron Schock Thursday, declaring that members of Congress are not “super citizens, immune from criminal responsibility.”
At issue, Schock’s contention that records from his former congressional office are his own personal property, not documents owned by the public. The target of a grand jury investigation over how he spent his office accounts and campaign funds, the former lawmaker says he has a 5th Amendment right to withhold the documents prosecutors are seeking.
In a filing Thursday, prosecutors alleged that Schock, and the Bipartisan Legal Advisory Group of the United States Congress argue that every other current and future member of congress have a right against production of public documents which will, among other things, reflect how they spend public funds.
“The government respectfully submits that this argument is repugnant to the fundamental principal that no man is above the law,” they wrote. “And therefore it should be rejected.”
“Its absurdity is self-evident,” they said. “And the House has no right to confer a constitutional privilege where none exists.”
Prosecutors have previously sought contempt proceedings against Schock. A hearing on the matter is set for next week.
