Rep. Aaron Schock: ‘I’m not going anywhere’

Rep. Aaron Schock, R-Ill. (Seth Perlman, AP)

Rep. Aaron Schock says he’s not going to step down from Congress, as he faces scrutiny over his use of taxpayer and campaign money.

The Illinois Republican rebuffed calls by National Review and Red StatereportJournal Star

“I would simply say these are the same groups who have called on John Boehner and Mitch McConnell to step down,” said Schock, referring to the top GOP leaders in Congress. “So they’re people who fundamentally have never supported me and probably won’t ever support me — and, unfortunately for them, I’m not going anywhere.”

Schock, first elected in 2008, has been the subject of news stories in USA TODAY and organizations about how he spends money from his official government and campaign accounts. USA TODAY reported Schock spent more than $100,000 from his taxpayer-funded account on office renovationsuse of private jetsWashington PostDownton Abbey

The watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington filed a complaint against Schock. The congressman has launched an internal review of his office’s processes and procedures, aided by attorneys, a PR team and other professionals he has hired in recent weeks.

Schock told the Peoria Heights-Suburban Lions Club on Wednesday night that he’s received positive support from his constituents, who have told him “hang in there, we support you.”

“I take my marching orders from the 750,000 people in the 18th District, who spoke rather loudly a few months ago,” he is quoted as saying in the Peoria news story. Schock is likely referencing his victory in the 2014 midterm elections, when he received 75% of the vote for a fourth term.