The Latest: Schock pleads not guilty to 24-count indictment

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. – The Latest on the arraignment of former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock, on charges he used government and campaign money for personal use:

4:15 p.m.

Former Congressman Aaron Schock has pleaded not guilty in federal court to misusing government and campaign money for personal use.

Schock appeared Monday in U.S. District Court in Springfield to be arraigned on a 24-count indictment. It includes allegations of wire and mail fraud and theft of government funds.

U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough set a trial date for Feb. 7.

The Republican from Peoria was a formidable fundraiser and a rising star in the GOP before news reports questioned his lavish spending to renovate his Capitol Hill office in the style of the PBS TV series “Downton Abbey” and scrutiny over travel and real estate deals.

The indictment includes nine counts of wire fraud, five of falsification of election commission filings, six of filing false federal income tax returns, two of making false statements, and one each of mail fraud and theft of government funds. A conviction on just one count of wire fraud carries a maximum 20-year prison sentence.

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8:30 a.m.

Former U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock of Illinois is to be arraigned Monday afternoon on federal corruption charges.

The 35-year-old Republican is accused of using government and campaign money to subsidize a lavish lifestyle, as well as pocketing thousands of constituents’ dollars. Prosecutors say he hosted Washington tours and meet-and-greets, charged a fee and kept some of the cash.

Proceedings will be in U.S. District Judge Sue Myerscough’s courtroom in Springfield, Illinois. Schock is from Peoria and had asked for the case to be moved there. Prosecutors didn’t want the case moved. The judge ruled that proceedings should remain in Springfield.

Schock was indicted on 24 counts last month. He resigned in March 2015 amid intensifying scrutiny over real estate deals, extensive travel and other spending.