Former Rep. Aaron Schock walks with his lawyers into the Dirksen Federal Courthouse in Chicago on Wednesday morning. Schock was scheduled to appear in court for the first time since the Supreme Court declined to get involved in his corruption case. | Ashlee Rezin/Chicago Sun-Times via AP Politics Aaron Schock won't rule out another run after settling corruption case

Former Rep. Aaron Schock said Wednesday that he would not rule out a return to politics after striking a deal with federal prosecutors to have corruption charges against him dropped with no admission of wrongdoing if he pays restitution and back taxes.

"At 37 years old, I don't think I'll ever say never," Schock told CBS News in response to a question about his potential future political ambitions. But the former lawmaker said he likely would enter the private sector and has "enjoyed being out of politics the last four years."


The disgraced Illinois Republican resigned from Congress in 2015 after questions emerged about his spending while in office. He was indicted in 2016 on 24 felony counts alleging that had he fleeced taxpayers and campaign donors through false expense claims and by using campaign funds to buy Super Bowl tickets that he sold online.

Under the settlement reached Wednesday, Schock will not admit to any wrongdoing — though his campaign committee will plead guilty to a misdemeanor — and the charges will be dropped if he pays $110,000 in restitution and taxes and stays out of legal trouble for six months.

Schock maintained his innocence in his interview with CBS, and though he said he could have done a better job at “back-office functions,” he also said his legal battle was “unnecessary and unjustified.”

POLITICO Playbook newsletter Sign up today to receive the #1-rated newsletter in politics Email Sign Up By signing up you agree to receive email newsletters or alerts from POLITICO. You can unsubscribe at any time. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

The former congressman said the last four years had been draining and that he’ll likely enter the private sector.

"It's come at significant cost to me financially and professionally and now that this is behind me, I'm looking forward to pursuing opportunities in the private sector,” he said. “I'll always have a heart to serve; that doesn't mean I have to run for office. There are other ways to serve your community."

Schock joined Congress in 2008 at 27, making him the youngest person elected to Congress. Before his resignation, he was seen as a rising star with leadership ambitions within the GOP.

CBS reported that since leaving office, Schock has split time between Los Angeles, where he is involved in real estate development, and Peoria, Ill., where his former congressional district is.