Breaking news, everyone! Former Republican state congressman from Illinois and Downton Abbey superfan Aaron Schock is back on Instagram after a year-and-a-half hiatus.
Related: In Rare Interview, Aaron Schock Says He’s Done With Politics. Shirtless Selfies? TBD.
The 35-year-old, totally-not-gay-100-percent-heterosexual, watersports-loving ex-lawmaker has been laying low for over a year now after resigning from the US House of Representatives in March 2015 amid allegations of misusing campaign donations and taxpayer money to pay for things like lavish office renovations, luxury travel expenses, and tickets to Katy Perry concerts.
After relinquishing his seat, Schock’s once very active social media accounts went completely dark. He stopped posting daily updates about his life on Twitter or sharing half-naked pictures of himself on Instagram. He also stopped posing shirtless on Men’s magazine covers, making public appearances, or granting interviews to media outlets.
Related: Aaron Schock Spotted Sipping Cocktails With Another Man At Romantic DC Hot Spot
In fact, one of the only times Schock has been seen in recent months was back in April when he was spotted sipping a fruity cocktail by candlelight with an attractive male companion at a romantic D.C. waterfront restaurant. Other than that, he and his turquoise belt have been totally M.I.A.
Until now.
Related: Are You Ready For An Aaron Schock-Inspired Gay Skin Flick?
On Tuesday, Mr. Schock made his hotly anticipated return to Instagram after 83 long weeks away by posting this:
It’s a far cry from some of the stuff he used to post, which included things like this:
And this:
And this:
But, hey, maybe he wants to take things slow?
At the start of this year, we predicted Colton Haynes would come out of the closet (he did), Kim Davis would fall into obscurity (she has), Donald Trump would go down in flames (he currently is), and Hillary Clinton would be elected the next President of the United States (we remain cautiously optimistic). We also predicted that Aaron Schock would mount a comeback.
Could this be the start of a brand new Schock era? Only time will tell. And you know we’ll keep you posted.
Related: Colton Haynes, Aaron Shock & Hillary Clinton: Six Predictions For 2016
Paul Nadolski
Correction: Mr. Schock represented Illinois in the US House of Representatives. Thankfully he isn’t in the Illinois General Assembly at this time…government in Illinois (thanks Governor Rauner!) is screwed up enough as it is.
scotshot
Ever notice how tiny his head is when compared to the rest of his body.
Low Country Boy
@Paul Nadolski: Thank you!
Tim
@Paul Nadolski beat me to it, but the article does misstate things. He was a U.S. Congressman when he resigned. The misappropriation of funds was in regards to his U.S. Congressional office in D.C. being decked out a la Downton Abbey, not from when he was serving in the IL House.
Jason.Sarfino
Got it. He mispent federal funds. I wonder if a female presidential candidate ever did something like getting Idunno – Getting Saudi Arabia to buy $120 billion worth of weapons after they made a $120 million donation to the GCI. I also wonder if that same candidate used her position after Hanes donated to said fund and negotiated Haiti to drop their minimum wage from $0.60/HR to $ 0.40/HR. C’mon Hanes, you’re cheap, but really? Yeah, he’s such a bad guy, isn’t he?
grethomory
I predict he’s getting ready to admit to the public he is gay. He’s going to write a book how it was tough for him to come out. He’s going to become a Democrat. He’s going to make tons of money so that he can turn his home into a scene from Dynasty.
I don’t get it why everyone thinks this guy is so hot. He’s nice looking, but that’s all I can say, nice looking.
Chevelter
Looks like Aaron reads Queerty and comments under a pseudonym.
desertguy
Who cares! In the scheme of things, what does it really matter? Sheesh!!!
woodin
Heard he was playing hostess for Trump fund raisers.
Masc Pride
The guy has a better body than his trainer. Totally see why so many bitter queens love to hate him. He’s just as hot with clothes on, but hopefully he will revert back to his old ways.
gayand gray
Everybody got his office style wrong. Was not Downton Abby, it was the White House. Compare pictures of both. Is was to show his game plan, where he wanted to be in a few years.
Kangol
@gayand gray: Schock was definitely more Lady Mary and Lady Edith Grantham than Teddy Roosevelt or Ronald Reagan, though the W Bush incompetence factor was definitely high enough to get him in trouble.
rand503
I don’t know what to make of this, but the last photo shows much more about him than I care to know about. Look at the shorts.
Pete
@Jason.Sarfino: The reason why Schock is considered a ‘bad guy’ in these parts is because he’s a likely a closet-case (spotted walking either towards or from DC Gay bars) who has voted for the homophobic initiatives of his party. Whether he did this out of self-loathing Reaction Formation, or was simply following his party line is anyone’s guess, though probably the latter.
Comparing Schock’s appropriation of taxpayer funds to decorate his fabulous Lord Grantham office with one of the Clinton Foundation’s more questionable donors is a false-equivalency. The Clinton Foundation is an excellently run, highly focused charity doing important work in Africa. The Saudis have lots and lots of money, and while their donation was really only a drop from their bucket, they were probably expecting some kind of vaguely defined consideration in return (which maybe this stalwart ally throughout the Cold War still deserves). However as anyone who has worked for a charity will tell you, you often have to shake hands with the devil to the the angels’ work. A lot of kids are finally getting life-saving mosquito nets to sleep under.
rdgallagher
This “fashion plate” has now become the “blue plate special”. His outfit looks likes it was on the final mark down rack of Marshal’s Peoria Illinois store. A little humility may help this self hating closet case.
Bjk
In photo 3, it looks like little(?) Schock is trying to get into the act!