Congressman Aaron Schock of Illinois is under scrutiny after posting images and videos on Instagram that raised questions about how he spent taxpayer and campaign funds.
The Associated Press examined location data from Schock’s images on Instagram and compared them with expenses billed for air travel.
The Republican lawmaker has taken at least a dozen flights worth more than $40,000 on donors’ airplanes since mid-2011, the AP reported. Many of those flights took place before the House changed its rule to allow lawmakers to use office funds for private flights.
Schock told the AP in an email that he travels "to stay connected with my constituents." He also said he takes compliance with congressional funding rules seriously and has begun a review of his office's procedures.
The AP also examined expense reports and Instagram photos to reveal that Schock apparently attended a Katy Perry concert with interns as part of more than $24,000 political action committee GOP Generation Y spent on concerts and events.
Schock has pared down his Instagram account, with the
oldest post being from August 2013, The Washington Post reported.
The House Ethics Committee has been eyeing Schock, saying in a 2013 report that there was reason to believe he violated House rules in soliciting donations during a 2012 primary.
Schock also drew fire when an interior decorator redesigned his office to a
"Downton Abbey" theme for free, CNN reported.
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