Rep. Aaron Schock is resigning his seat in Congress, saying in a statement issued Tuesday that "constant questions over the last six weeks have proven a great distraction" and have made it "too difficult for me to serve the people of the 18th District."

The 33-year-old Republican from Peoria had been considered a rising star in Washington, but has been dogged by controversy over spending of campaign and taxpayer money.

Schock's statement read as follows:

"Today, I am announcing my resignation as a Member of the United States House of Representatives effective March 31st.

"I do this with a heavy heart. Serving the people of the 18th District is the highest and greatest honor I have had in my life. I thank them for their faith in electing me and letting me represent their interests in Washington. I have given them my all over the last six years. I have traveled to all corners of the District to meet with the people I've been fortunate to be able to call my friends and neighbors.

"But the constant questions over the last six weeks have proven a great distraction that has made it too difficult for me to serve the people of the 18th District with the high standards that they deserve and which I have set for myself.

"I have always sought to do what's best for my constituents and I thank them for the opportunity to serve."

Schock, the first person elected to Congress who was born in the 1980s, won a fourth term in the House in November.

As he came under increasing scrutiny in the last six weeks the lawmaker enlisted two veteran Washington lawyers for an internal review of his office and political operation.

Considered an adept practitioner of social media, his many posts of photos of himself in far-flung locales fueled controversy over how he was spending his time and money.

Schock visited at least nine foreign countries since the start of 2014, sometimes on government business and sometimes for pleasure, a Tribune review found. His penchant for travel has come under intense scrutiny in recent weeks, ever since The Washington Post described his "Downton Abbey" redesign of his congressional office. Schock subsequently repaid $40,000 from his personal checking account for the redecorating work, The Associated Press reported.

The lawmaker still faces allegations that he did not properly account for his trips and did not conform to requirements on the use of private aircraft.

Once he leaves office, Schock will no longer fall under the jurisdiction of the House Ethics Committee or the Office of Congressional Ethics.

However, a Capitol Hill source said Tuesday that lawyers at the Justice Department's  public integrity section, the Federal Election Commission, or state or federal prosecutors in Illinois still could examine the allegations against Schock to determine if he violated the law. The source, while familiar with Schock's case, spoke on condition of anonymity.

Sen. Dick Durbin said Tuesday that he was "stunned" that Schock resigned.

But the Illinois Democrat went on to say the resignation indicates the allegations that have dogged the GOP lawmaker have some weight.

"Obviously the charges and allegations against Aaron Schock have been significant and they have raised important questions about his expenditure of campaign funds and official funds," Durbin said, speaking to reporters. "His resignation suggests that many of the allegations had substance behind them."

"We have been through this in our delegation," he added.  "Congressman (Jesse) Jackson, of course, for the misuse of campaign funds has paid a heavy price, both for him and his wife."

Jackson is in federal prison in Alabama for misusing about $750,000 in campaign funds. His wife, Sandi, a former Chicago alderman, will serve a yearlong prison term after he gets out.

Durbin also said: "I don't know what the future holds for Aaron Schock. But I was stunned today that he resigned. I didn't know that was going to happen."

The senator, asked about Schock's youth and ambition, responded:

"His trademark in politics was that he was a young boy, a young man when he was first elected to the school board in Peoria, then moved up to the state House, then moved up to Congress, then moved up to leadership. His youth was used as his trademark and it turns out that although he was clearly young, he needed some experience and some advice and some wisdom to make some important decisions."

Durbin, asked whether Democrats could win Schock’s seat, said: "It's a very tough seat. It was designed to be a very Republican seat. I'm not saying that we couldn't find a good candidate to win, but it would be a challenge."

"This is a sad day for the people of Illinois and the 18th District," Gov. Bruce Rauner said in a statement.

Rumors that Schock was planning to resign have been floating on Capitol Hill since early March.

Schock reportedly did not tell House Republican leaders before his resignation statement was issued. House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, responded to the news: "With this decision, Rep. Schock has put the best interests of his constituents and the House first. I appreciate Aaron’s years of service, and I wish him well in the future."

One Democratic campaign official pounced on Schock’s resignation and asserted it showed that the GOP House caucus "is more like Animal House."

"Speaker Boehner’s Republican Congress continues its epic implosion," said Matt Thornton, spokesman for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, which works to elect Democrats to the House.

Thornton noted that Schock is the second Republican to resign this year amid an ethic scandal. The other is former U.S. Rep. Michael Grimm of New York , who left Jan. 5 and is awaiting sentencing for criminal tax violations.

A precocious politician, Schock had won a seat on a local school board when he was 19, and was elected president three years later.

He subsequently won a seat in the state House, challenging an incumbent. His next step was Congress. Schock was just 27 when he succeeded retiring Rep. Ray LaHood.

Quoted:

I seem to remember Pelosi spending thousands on flowers for her office while Speaker.

Quoted:

I seem to remember Pelosi spending thousands on flowers for her office while Speaker.