Report: Jesse Jackson Jr. In Plea Negotiations With Federal Prosecutors

While Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. remains at the Mayo Clinic, he was overwhelmingly re-elected to Congress on Tuesday to the surprise of absolutely nobody. Conveniently, it’s not being reported in the Chicago Sun-Times that the Congressman is reportedly in negotiations, through attorneys obviously, with Federal prosecutors over a possible plea deal related to ongoing criminal investigations against him:

Sneed has learned U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who handily won re-election Tuesday despite a lengthy stay at Mayo Clinic for depression and bipolar disorder, is in the midst of plea discussions with the feds probing his alleged misuse of campaign funds.

“No one has pled guilty, but plea discussions are ongoing,” said a top Sneed source, who said Jackson is still undergoing treatment at Mayo Clinic.

Sneed is also told Jackson, who returned to Mayo Clinic after undergoing outpatient treatment in the seclusion of his home in Washington, D.C., is not only being investigated for allegedly using campaign funds to decorate his Washington home — but also Sneed hears he may also have used campaign funds to buy a $40,000 Rolex watch as a gift for a female friend.

(…)

“This has been an ongoing nightmare for the Jackson family, particularly his wife, Ald. Sandi Jackson, and the Reverend [his father, Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr.],” added the source, who is familiar with the campaign funds probe.

I suppose it would have been nice if the voters had known about this before Tuesday. Although somehow I doubt it would’ve mattered.

Sneed, by the way, is Sun-Times reporter Michael Sneed.

H/T: Taegan Goddard

FILED UNDER: 2012 Election, Congress, Crime, US Politics, , , ,
Doug Mataconis
About Doug Mataconis
Doug Mataconis held a B.A. in Political Science from Rutgers University and J.D. from George Mason University School of Law. He joined the staff of OTB in May 2010 and contributed a staggering 16,483 posts before his retirement in January 2020. He passed far too young in July 2021.

Comments

  1. Rob in CT says:

    Nice. Real nice.

    Bi-polar disorder, eh? Hey, I feel you Jesse. Being investigated for using your campaign funds as your personal checking account sure is stressful. A man could crack under that stress.

  2. Dave Schuler says:

    Neither incarceration nor diminished capacity nor even the inability to serve prohibit one from serving as a representative in the U. S. House of Representatives. If you meet the constitutional prerequisites and you’re elected, you’re in and the states can do nothing about it.

    Constitutionally, the House does have the ability to limit its own membership and could refuse to seat the Congressman. I think it’s unlikely at this point.

  3. Herb says:

    to buy a $40,000 Rolex watch as a gift for a female friend.

    No wonder it’s been hard on his wife……

    Like father, like son?

  4. Just Me says:

    And this just proves that at least half the people who vote are idiots.

    While I didn’t know about the plea negotiations, I knew about the investigation and that alone would have been enough to make me not vote for him.

    Was it impossible for constituents to not be aware of this? Or did they just not care because there was a D next to his name?

    I hope he will withdraw-it isn’t like in Illinois a republican is going to be appointed to the seat or if tey have to have an election is going to win.

    I think it would be interesting to discuss why democrats reelect criminals and tax cheats oh and guys who leave women to drown after driving drunk.

  5. Mr. Replica says:

    @Just Me:

    I think it would be interesting to discuss why democrats reelect criminals and tax cheats oh and guys who leave women to drown after driving drunk.

    I am not so sure that you are looking for a discussion, but more of a my tribe is better than your tribe argument.
    Both parties have politicians that have broken the law in many ways. Just off the top of my head I can name two republicans, Issa and Vitter. But, I am sure you and others may try and rationalize how the opposing tribe’s criminal members are some how worse, but I don’t care. I am not interested in a pissing match. I am playing a page from the playbook of “Both sides do it” and nothing more.

    For the record, I am not defending any of these acts or politicians, especially Jackson. He should be removed.

  6. 11B40 says:

    Greetings:

    Kind of a 21st Century secular sanctuary that Mayo Clinic. But, then as my Oyrish Granmama used to say, “Time wounds all heels.”

  7. mike says:

    He would have been elected if he were sitting in jail after being convicted. He wasn’t elected b/c he is really talented and smart.

  8. grumpy realist says:

    Was anyone running against him? I was surprised at the number of seats that were unopposed.

    Jackson’s a dimwit ass and a placeholder for his district, that’s all. He’s about as useful–and as dangerous–as a sofa pillow. We’re having more fun with our other nut ball Democrat, who got re-elected even though he’s under inditement . (And now everyone’s trying to figure out how to get rid of him.)

    Ah, Illinois, where men are men, women are women, and politicians are under investigation.

    (Rahm’s actually been working out quite well, though. I chalk up the rest to standard silly politics.)

  9. bill says:

    not like you’ll find a clean politician up there to begin with but these guys don’t seem to even try to hide it.