Former Rep. Aaron Schock ordered to provide records in probe

Feb. 6, 2015: Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill., answers questions from the media as he returns to Peoria, Ill. (AP)

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – A federal judge has ordered former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock to provide some records to prosecutors as part of a grand jury probe into the Illinois Republican's spending.

U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough's ruling, issued Feb. 12 and unsealed Wednesday, followed months of legal wrangling over documents that Schock's attorneys argue should be confidential.

Among the 16 records that Myerscough said Schock must turn over are 2011 documents related to a joint campaign fundraising committee he controlled and draft limited liability company agreements related to his "personal business dealings."

He also must produce emails about his travel and a real estate investment — some of which were exchanged days before Schock announced March 17, 2015, that he would resign at the end of the month amid questions about congressional and campaign spending.

Schock, of Peoria, has since been issued at least two grand jury subpoenas seeking campaign and congressional records. FBI agents also have removed boxes and other items from his central Illinois campaign office.

Lawyers for Schock did not respond to requests for comment Saturday. They have argued that the one-time GOP rising star has provided thousands of pages of documents to prosecutors, but that some records should not be handed over because they involve attorney/client communications or were prepared in preparation for litigation.

Myerscough reviewed the 72 documents in question. She agreed some may be kept confidential and indicated in her ruling that prosecutors and Schock's lawyers had reached an agreement regarding most of the others.

Schock, 34, came under intense scrutiny in early 2015 for his spending, including redecorating his office in the style of TV's "Downton Abbey." Among media reports of irregularities were Associated Press investigations of real estate deals, air travel and entertainment, including trips and events he documented on social media accounts.