As the news kept getting worse for Illinois Republican Rep. Aaron Schock, congressional staffers on both sides of the aisle spent little time mourning on Twitter the fate of a once-rising star.
Schock surprised Republican leadership in the House when he announced his resignation last week after a barrage of headlines questioning his spending habits, with Speaker John Boehner saying violating the rules "catches up with you." On Twitter, many staffers and former members of Congress have shown little hesitation to pile on the jokes as things grew worse for Schock.
The top congressional tweets as the Schock scandal got more serious after its first decorating development:
Former Rep. Joe Walsh (R-Ill.) on Feb. 6:
"Schock sold a home to a campaign contributor above market value. No word if that home housed a room decorated in the style of Mr. Bean."
Richard A. Carbo, communications director for Rep. Patrick Murphy (D-Fla.), on Feb. 27:
"Nice try. Aaron Schock Crisis Mgmt Consultant ---> MT @brianjameswalsh: House Dems just voted to shutdown the Dept of Homeland Security."
Morgan E. Williams, fellow for Rep. Cheri Bustos (D-Ill.), on March 11:
"In embarassing things in my google search history today: 'Aaron Schock Men's Health cover.' I blame this article: http://t.co/Iw12JUfEo9"
Patrick Morrow Boland, communications director for House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, on March 11:
"Please pack your knives & go @aaronschock. Brutal 'Aaron Schock Sure Knew About Ethics Rules When He Judged Top Chef' http://t.co/sTVfJv8y3d"
Pete Sanborn, legislative assistant for Rep. Lynn Westmoreland (R-Ga.), on March 17:
"Got to give Aaron Schock some credit. He has accomplished, and failed, more than most people out there by the age of 34."
Josh Zembik, communications director for Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), on March 17:
"Schock saying he 'always sought to do what's best for his constituents' is true if he considered his instagram followers his constituents."
Walsh on March 17:
"Schock's Instagram account is about to become very boring. Instead of exotic trips in Europe, Aaron will show off his Wisconsin Dells vaca"
Faiz R. Shakir, senior adviser for digital media for the Senate Democratic Minority Leader, on March 17:
"Schock's comms guy must have seen where this was going right away... 'you've created a bit of a crisis in the office' http://t.co/SkHNgbZjSW"
Ian Koski, senior adviser to Sen. Chris Coons (D-Del.), on March 17:
"Downton Abdicate, amirite?"
Zembik on March 17:
"Old political communications adage holds true: never decline comment on Downton Abbey."
Former Rep. John Dingell (D-Mich.) on March 17:
"Aaron who? I don't use Instagram."
