SPRINGFIELD — A former top aide to now-resigned U.S. Rep. Aaron Schock said Tuesday that he will have to return to Springfield next month to testify before a grand jury investigating Schock.
Ben Cole, former communications director for the former congressman, was in Springfield because he had been subpoenaed to testify before the grand jury.
However, Cole said upon leaving the federal building Tuesday afternoon that a prior commitment limited the amount of time he had available to testify, so federal prosecutors allowed him to return to another grand jury session next month.
Cole said he was handed a subpoena March 19 by Springfield-based FBI agents who were in Washington to talk to potential witnesses.
The agents talked to him about his “work for the congressman” as well as asking questions about “the policies of the office.”
Schock resigned March 31 after six weeks of questions about his spending habits, including payments for miles driven that appear to be far in excess of miles recorded on his personal vehicle.
Questions have now arisen surrounding his former campaign political director Karen McDonald, who was reimbursed for traveling nearly 8,500 miles — or more than 157 miles per day — between October and December, including Thanksgiving.