"Downton Abbey" Congressman gets no mercy, US top court refuses to hear appeal

The U.S. Supreme Court on Tuesday rejected a bid by Republican former congressman Aaron Schock, who resigned in 2015 amid questions about spending on his lavish "Downton Abbey"- inspired Washington office, to escape charges accusing him of defrauding the government while a member of the House of Representatives.

The justices declined to hear Schock's appeal of a lower court's refusal to throw out an indictment against the 37-year-old former lawmaker from Illinois after he argued the charges violated U.S. constitutional protections for members of Congress.