An investigation published Monday alleges that former Rep. Aaron Schock (R-IL) worked to shape U.S. policy toward Venezuela while pursuing business interests tied to the country, including what associates said was a promised gold mine. The report also details a $100,000 consulting arrangement with a Republican donor who has oil interests in Venezuela.
Schock represented the Peoria area from 2009 until he resigned in March 2015 as federal investigators examined his use of campaign funds and taxpayer money. Prosecutors charged him the following year with defrauding the federal government, alleging he billed more than $100,000 in personal expenses to taxpayers and campaign accounts. The case ended in March 2019 when prosecutors dropped 24 felony charges after Schock admitted wrongdoing, paid back the IRS, and reimbursed his campaign fund.
After Trump won reelection in November 2024, Florida Republican donor Harry Sargeant III paid Schock $100,000 in a lump sum. Sargeant is a longtime investor in Venezuela with oil interests in the country. His attorney, Christopher Kise, said the payment was for "strategic consulting" and denied Schock was hired as a lobbyist or to lift sanctions on Sargeant's oil business.
In January 2025, Schock traveled to Caracas. He later told business associate Benjamin Papermaster that Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodriguez had offered him a gold mine if he kept U.S. pressure off Venezuela during Trump's second term.
Papermaster told the outlet:
"Dude, that is the dumbest f***ing idea. Cartels and gangsters control the gold mines. Lord knows, you're not going to f***ing mine the gold."
Schock was not deterred. He texted Papermaster, "Gold guy is available in 5-10 minutes," referring to a metallurgist he had found to refine ore, according to a message Politico reviewed. He worked with Papermaster to recruit bondholders and energy companies that wanted a softer U.S. line on Venezuela, with the goal of pushing back against the approach favored by Secretary of State Marco Rubio. He also helped hire Forward Global, a Paris-based firm that pays social media influencers to distribute political content, to run a messaging campaign on Venezuela.
Schock also sought out Trump ally Laura Loomer, according to the report, hoping she could help undermine Rubio-aligned officials by feeding her opposition research. Loomer denied she was part of the effort or paid for her work.
Richard Grenell, whom Trump appointed to a special-envoy role, is identified in the report as someone Schock's circle believed shared their preferred approach to Venezuela. The report does not allege Grenell participated in the effort. Grenell did not respond to a request for comment.
Schock did not register under the Foreign Agent Registration Act, which can apply to lobbying and public relations work done on behalf of foreign governments or interests. Legal experts cited in the report said it was not clear whether the law applied to his situation. Papermaster told Politico that Schock chose not to register because doing so would cost him his congressional member's pin, which allows former members onto the House floor.
Over five months starting March 6, 2025, Schock logged $185,000 in claimed business expenses. Politico reported that invoices submitted to Sargeant included travel expenses, subscriptions, and a $7,000 campaign contribution to Republican Rep. Andy Barr (KY-06), who is running for the Kentucky Senate seat being vacated by Mitch McConnell. Barr did not respond to a request for comment.
Schock did not respond to text messages, emails, phone calls, or a certified letter sent to his Beverly Hills home. Republican operative Caroline Wren, acting as a go-between, said Schock told her he would not "engage in a coordinated hit piece." Rodriguez, who has since become Venezuela's president, declined to comment through a government spokesperson.
Kise wrote on behalf of Sargeant:
"The notion that a highly successful businessman, with extensive historic political ties would place Aaron Schock at the center of any effort regarding the Trump Administration or Venezuelan business matters is simply untenable."
Kise also said, "Mr. Sargeant never agreed to pay, never paid, and never received any invoice, billing or reimbursement request for any alleged Schock expenses." He further stated there was "no evidence Mr. Sargeant ever engaged Forward Global or worked with Forward Global."
Forward Global said its work did not require FARA registration because the firm "was retained by a U.S. client to assist U.S. entities with a domestic communications campaign" and "did not act on behalf of or at the direction or control of any foreign persons."
By April 2026, the U.S. military had removed Maduro, the U.S. restored diplomatic relations with Venezuela, and bank sanctions were eased. Rodriguez took power in Caracas. Last month, Schock flew back to Venezuela on Copa Airlines and landed in Valencia, in Carabobo province, a region with a history of gold prospecting dating to 1551. Whether he received any stake in a gold mine, or is still trying to, is not known.
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