Capitol Fax: Jackson tried to report to prison early, turned away, now in custody

Odd! Well I can understand he wants to report to prison and start his sentence already. The former Congressman was scheduled to report to prison no earlier than November 1st as he was sentenced. It was in the news starting yesterday that he offered a list of visitors, and a mailing address to contact him in prison. Then we find out he was turned away and finally got into custody today.

The sentences have been handed down for former power couple Jesse Jr. & Sandi

On Wednesday the sentences was handed down for both Jesse Jr. and Sandi Jackson. Both had pled guilty in federal court with Jesse Jr. pleading guilty to using campaign funds for personal purposes and Sandi for under reporting her income to the IRS. Jesse Jr. resigned from his congressional seat not long after his re-election in November 2012 and Sandi in January of this year from her old city council seat.

Sandi's former colleagues on the Chicago City Council had some comments about this whole ordeal for Sandi. 6th Ward Ald. Roderick Sawyer had his comments:

Ald. Roderick Sawyer (6th), son of former Mayor Eugene Sawyer, has known Sandi and Jesse Jr. for more than 20 years. Sawyer worked as an attorney on Jesse Jr.’s first congressional campaign.

On Wednesday, Sawyer’s thoughts were with the Jackson children, ages 13 and 9.

“They’re gonna be spending time without their parents. Any time that happens, it’s devastating. I hope they can get through this,” said Sawyer, who sat next to Sandi Jackson in the City Council.

“I’m not trying to defend bad or illegal behaviors. But they’ve been people I’ve had the pleasure of knowing a long time and, if they reach out to me, I will reach back. That’s the act of a friend.”

As far as sentencing, Jesse Jr. will serve his prison term first as he will serve 30 months at a federal prison. Sandi on the other hand will serve 12 months in a federal prison and that means she won't get out early as if she had a "year and a day". Since Jesse Jr. will serve his prison term first that means Sandi will serve as soon as her husband completes his term.

For another thought on this unfortunate case Mary Mitchell opined on this as well.

Jesse Jr. and wife expected to plead guilty to federal charges!

This is a very unfortunate development and apparently months if not years in the making. It's very unbelievable but at some point we knew this day would come!

Jesse Jackson Jr. and his wife Sandi intend to plead guilty to federal charges alleging the former congressman misused $750,000 in campaign funds while she understated their income on tax returns for six years, their lawyers say.

Jackson Jr., 47, a Democrat from Chicago, was charged in a criminal information Friday with one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud and false statements. He faces up to five years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and other penalties.

Sandi Jackson was charged with one count of filing false tax returns. She faces up to three years in prison, a fine of up to $250,000 and other penalties.

Jackson Jr. is accused of diverting $750,000 in campaign funds for personal use.

Federal authorities allege that Jackson Jr. used campaign funds to purchase a $43,350 men’s gold-plated Rolex watch, $5,150 worth of fur capes and parkas, and $9,588 in children’s furniture. The purchases were made between 2007 and 2009, according to the criminal information, which authorities noted is not evidence of guilt.

Other expenditures listed by prosecutors include $10,105 on Bruce Lee memorabilia, $11,130 on Martin Luther King memorabilia and $22,700 on Michael Jackson items, including $4,600 for a "Michael Jackson fedora."

The government also alleged that Jackson Jr. made false statements to the House of Representatives because he did not report approximately $28,500 in loans and gifts he received.

"He has accepted responsibility for his actions and I can confirm that he intends to plead guilty to the charge in the information," Jackson Jr.'s attorney Brian Heberlig said.

Sandi Jackson is accused of filing incorrect joint tax returns with her husband for calendar years 2006 through 2011, reporting income “substantially less than the amount of income she and her husband received in each of the calendar years,” with a substantial additional tax due.

Her attorneys released a statement saying she has "reached an agreement with the U.S. attorney’s office to plead guilty to one count of tax fraud."

It's very unfortunate that two promising political careers in Chicago has come to an abrupt end. In fact they were going to be the next best "political machine" in Chicago and they had defeated a rival machine in the form of the organization for current Cook County Commissioner Bill Beavers. Unfortunately, even the feds have him under indictment.

For now we have many aspirants to succeed Jesse Jackson Jr. who had resigned not long after his successful re-election bid although he hadn't been in the public eye since June. Also Sandi Jackson's replacement on the Chicago City Council has already been appointed.

Where are the new generation of Black political leaders?

This article was written last month in the Sun-Times and in the wake of the resignation of Congressman Jackson from his seat. This may well be a continuing question not just on the federal level but locally as well even though there are plenty of young people locally who are poised to be the fresh faces of Black leadership in this state:

As federal investigators dug into his conduct, Jackson resigned from Congress on Wednesday. The end of his once-promising career left Chicago’s black political scene with a void: Who can claim not only the fallen reformer’s spot in Washington, but also become the avatar for a new generation and style of African-American leadership here?

Jackson’s demise means virtually all of the highest-ranking black politicians are senior citizens. The 48-year-old Jackson was one of three black congressmen in the Illinois delegation, but by far the youngest: Danny Davis is 71 and Bobby Rush is 66.

The most powerful African-American in local government, Cook County Board President Toni Preckwinkle, is 65, while Secretary of State Jesse White — the only black state-wide office holder — is 78.

The younger Jackson’s resignation, combined with the aging of many other African-American elected officials, is hastening the search for fresh faces who might restore or even enhance the community’s clout. Younger African-American leaders in lower-level positions said they believe a new generation is ready to come of age.

“I think you’ll see something new,” said Kwame Raoul, 48, who replaced Barack Obama in the Illinois Senate after Obama became a U.S. senator eight years ago. “You will begin to see, as a result of the rapid rise of Obama, more and more African-American candidates who have crossover appeal and come from different professional backgrounds than we’ve historically seen.”

Please read the whole thing, but you may need to register with the Sun-Times to see the whole article.

So is Ald. Sandi Jackson resigning?

[VIDEO] Yesterday some friends of her said she was and is planning to leave Chicago to move back to DC. Today, Sandi herself says she has no plans to resign. In fact here's some of what was said in the vid above:

"My constituents are people who depends on me to be there for them. And I'm going to continue to work hard on their behalf," Ald. Jackson said. "Whoever these people are who purport to speak for me should stop."

This is what she had said in the Tribune about whether or not she intends to finish out her aldermanic term:

"I will finish my term. I intend to finish my term," Jackson added. "Unless something catastrophic happens -- I could step outside and get hit by a bus today."

Asked whether her husband getting sent to prison would constitute "something catastrophic," Jackson said she would not discuss that.

"I'm not going to entertain questions like that, I really am not," she said.

It has been noted that there are charges that she isn't living full-time in the 7th Ward. In fact you might have seem reader comments here on this blog charging exactly that. She did discuss that as well:

Jackson said she has not yet decided whether to move back to Chicago full time from Washington D.C., where she said her husband is currently staying with the couple's children while he continues to see his doctors regularly.

Well, all the same it was noted that her attendance to city council meetings and city council committee hearings haven't been very good. I'm sure that's where these rumors started but lets remember that both her and her husband are public figures even if Jesse Jr. is no longer a sitting Congressman.

I also recognize that in light of federal investigation into his involvement with Rod Blagojevich or any investigation into Jackson's campaign funds has caused some stress for that family. Indeed it may have contributed to the mental health of the former Congressman. So most of us recognize that this is a trying time for Ald. Jackson's family and being in public life doesn't help surely.

All the same thanks to her attendance issues on the City Council Joe Lake has started an online petition that requests that she resign her city council seat. I'm only curious how many people from the 7th Ward would call for that and they're the most important people Jackson has to consider. People citywide can have their opinions, but what about the constituents of the 7th!

BTW, Jackson is also the Democratic committeewoman of the 7th Ward and stated in the Tribune that she hasn't decided who to support in next year's special election for the 2nd congressional district. What we do know right now is that she isn't going to consider getting into that race.

What's new in the 2nd congressional district

Well, we already should've known about this. Mel Reynolds was already interested in regaining his old Congressional seat. You can read the Greg Hinz report here. It seems Reynolds held himself up well during the course of his announcement. Courtesy of Ward Room you can even watch some video of Reynolds' announcement.

BTW, Capitol Fax used Reynolds entrance into the race to succeed Jesse Jackson Jr. for the 2nd Congressional District as the basis for a humorous question of the day. Snark was encouraged to provide Reynold's campaign slogan. :P

Back to Jesse Jackson Jr., you should've seen a link to this Sun-Times story in the aforementioned Capitol Fax posting. The former Congressman was tipped off about a potential investigation into his campaign finances before he took a medical leave from the House of Representatives back in June.

Ward Room has been all over this story posting very frequently. So here's an updated listing of who's in and out of the race. We know Jackson can still get his pension as so far he hasn't yet been convicted of a felony. Also another point to be made here, a suburbanite could gain this seat.

BTW, it's amazing that it's just as much news that Jackson's resignation letter was also read in the House of Representatives. Video below is courtesy of ABC 7 with this write-up which also indicated that his brother Jonathan is considering a run! [VIDEO]

Greg Hinz: Who's in, who's out in race for Jesse Jackson Jr.'s seat in Congress?

US Capitol Washington, DC

A flurry of names are coming out in the special election to replace Jesse Jackson Jr. who resigned last week. A special election has been called with a primary in February next year and then a general in March next year.

We've been hearing some names since Jackson's resignation such as Todd Stroger but he quickly took his name out of contention. Well now people are looking at the money in his campaign accounts!

Debbie Halvorson who is a former member of Congress has put her hat into the ring as well. She ran against Jackson in the primary earlier this year and needless to say she wasn't able to win that one.

Another interesting possibility is 9th Ward Ald. Anthony Beale. He has only gone so far as to form a political committee for that purpose. Beale is considered to be in the Jackson circle so who knows how that could work out in a congressional race.

There is an irony here. Jackson himself took the seat in 1995 in a special election when he replaced Mel Reynolds after he had been embroiled in a sex scandal and was ultimately sent to prison for sexual assault and bank fraud. Reynolds who attempted to regain his seat in 2004 is also throwing his name into this election.

BTW, there is a "fear" that a Republican could potentially win this seat although it's certain that this potential Republican could only last one term. Time will tell what will happen in this coming election.

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. had planned to speak Wednesday — but called it off - Chicago Sun-Times

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. had planned to speak Wednesday — but called it off - Chicago Sun-Times

  The South Shore Democrat’s top aides gave conflicting reports late Tuesday on whether Jackson had planned to address his workers in a conference call and email on Wednesday, as a TV station reported.

But ultimately, they agreed it was not going to happen.

Rick Bryant, Jackson’s chief of staff, insisted Jackson had no plans to “break his silence” Wednesday.

“We’re not having a conference call tomorrow, no,” Bryant told the Chicago Sun-Times.

But Frank Watkins, Jackson’s spokesman, said his boss had planned to speak, but changed his mind.

“There was a conference call. I was informed the congressman was going to have a conference call with the staff at 10 a.m.,” Watkins said Tuesday night.

“All I know it was a conference call, and the congressman was going to speak to the staff,” he said.

But a few hours later he was told that the call was off.

“Chief of Staff ... Rick Bryant informed me the call was cancelled,” Watkins said.

 What is the deal?

Any here's some related reading. Ed McClelland at Ward Room answers the question many are wondering. In spite of Jesse Jr.'s absence how did the veteran Congressman get re-elected earlier this month?

FOX 32: Jackson Jr. won’t resign until he gets disability pay

Chicago News and Weather | FOX 32 News

[VIDEO] The story of Jesse Jackson Jr has become the story of the year. He had largely been absent not only from Congress, but also from the recently concluded 2012 campaign. After not being seen he still had been re-elected to his seat and soon it appears he won't be a sitting US Congressman.

Earlier this week the Feds had their eye on Sandi Jackson. The Capitol Fax commented on this stating that the mob won't mess with your friends and family but they Feds would. If nothing else this is only pressure and they've been through enough already and it's already taking it's toll on Jesse Jr.

At this point FOX 32 Chicago has an exclusive!

Sources tell Fox 32 News that congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. is willing to give up his 2nd congressional seat if he's given disability when he steps down.

Jackson Jr. was re-elected to his tenth term but last month, sources say, he applied for a disability package--what could be his only income if he resigns. It is expected to take a couple of weeks for congress to approve or deny the request.

This house on 72nd Street is part of the federal government's investigation into allegations that Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. misused campaign funds. Sources say Jackson allegedly spent $20,000 to renovate and buy furniture for the family's home in Chicago, not their 5-bedroom Victorian home in Washington D.C.

The basement in the Chicago home has five televisions and a number of printers and copying machines, sources say. Most of the equipment was purchased in the mid-90's when Jackson was first elected, but because of flooding a couple of years ago, most, if not all, was replaced.

Sources close to the family tell Fox 32's Darlene Hill that the congressman may be reporting the use of the space in the basement as his campaign headquarters.

Chicagoist: Jackson Plea Deal May Include Jail Time; Family Not Talking

Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. may be in trouble. He won his re-election bid last week without making any public campaign appearances. He's still pursuing treatment for his bipolar disorder and now it looks like the Feds may have something on him!

Since Sun-Times gossip columnist Michael Sneed first broke the story last week, CBS 2 reported Friday the plea deal could include jail time and Jackson would resign his seat, citing his health. He would also promise to pay back any campaign contributions spent for personal use. Jackson is alleged to have spent campaign money on redecorating his home and on a Rolex watch for a female friend.

The plea deal is being negotiated by former U.S. Attorney Dan Webb. Webb was one of the prosecutors in the Operation Greylord scandal, helped negotiate the plea deal for former congressman Dan Rostenkowski in 1994, and was appointed earlier this year to investigate the Chicago Police Department’s and Cook County State’s Attorney’s handling of the case involving the 2004 death of David Koschman, who died from injuries sustained from a punch by Daley family relative Richard “R.J.” Vanecko, who was never charged in the murder.

Webb is negotiating for Jackson to keep his pension, but the congressman won’t be able to collect it until he turns 62.

CBS 2 went to Rainbow PUSH headquarters and Jackson’s campaign headquarters for comment. Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. would not comment and staffers at Jackson Jr.’s office would not answer the door.

If this comes to pass, there would have to be a special election. However, this was home Jackson became a congressman as he had run in a special election to replace Mel Reynolds back in 1995 after Reynolds became embroiled over a sex scandal.

Capitol Fax: New twist in long J3 saga

We learned last week that Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. was selling his Washington, DC home. Then today we find out Jackson has taken his home off of public listings. Rich Miller tracks the reaction of Chicago area journalists and it appears not many of them are very happy with him because of this back and forth. Feel free to share your take on the situation involving the Congressman!

Congressman Jackson sells his DC area home...

In this posting over at the Capitol Fax, Rich Miller looks at brief blurbs over Jesse Jackson Jr's sale of his DC area home. Of course this only fueled speculation that the congressman could leave his seat in the near future and possibly have his wife Ald Sandi Jackson succeed him. Although for now we have to read the Congressman's explanation of his DC home sale which was to mainly defray their healthcare costs.

Either way, I wish Congressman Jackson the best since he had left the Mayo Clinic earlier this month.

Congressman Jackson is back at home

You might have missed the news from yesterday as posted on the CapFax via the Tribune:

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., has left the Mayo Clinic and is at home in the nation's capital with his family, an aide said today.

"He's home with his wife and children and he's convalescing," Rick Bryant, his chief of staff in suburban Chicago, told the Chicago Tribune.

Jackson, 47, was treated for bipolar depression at the clinic this summer.  He began a medical leave of absence June 10.

Congress returns Monday after a five-week summer recess. Bryant, asked whether Jackson would be in attendance, said: "I am hopeful that he'll be back on the job on Monday."

Bryant said he did not know the date Jackson checked out of Mayo. He said the congressman had planned to drive from Minnesota to his home in Washington.

Here's hoping that he's been treated and a speedy recovery.

Ward Room: Deadline Day is Friday for Jesse Jackson Jr.

Sooo, deadline for what?

Will he or won't he? Embattled Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. has until the end of the day Friday to decide whether he'll remain on the November ballot.

I'm not so sure he's just going to remove himself from the ballot in November. We do know that he's being treated at the Mayo Clinic for bipolar disorder. In whatever he chooses to do we do wish him well.

Is there a move to replace Jesse Jacskon Jr.? Maybe or maybe not...

A New York Post article I found via The Ward Room:

The Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. wants his youngest son to succeed his oldest son in Congress, family sources told The Post.

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. has been recovering from depression at an inpatient facility since June 10 — and if he isn’t up to running for reelection in November, the elder Jackson is laying the groundwork for son, Jonathan, 46, to run, sources said.

Jesse Sr., the civil-rights leader and former Democratic presidential candidate, has also taken control of Jesse Jr.’s congressional office, managing media inquiries about the congressman’s health, the sources said.

“The Reverend and Mrs. Jackson have an agenda that may not be Jesse Jr.’s . . . return to Congress,” one source speculated.

“The reverend is getting older and less and less relevant and he wants his legacy to live on in his son Jonathan. He doesn’t control Jesse Jr., who’s very much his own guy. He thinks he’ll have more weight with Jonathan in the position.”

The very same post at Ward Room noted in an update:

Update: Congressman Jackson's spokesman Rick Bryant called the Ward Room this morning and tells us everything in the New York Post story is categorically false.

Reverend Jesse Jackson said: “It’s such a total fabrication ...
“He’s under sound medical treatment ; he is responding.”

Guess what? I found more at The Grio:

Speaking to theGrio on Wednesday, the Jackson camp put on a full-court defense, calling the story “false,” “absurd” and “a fabrication.”

“The story in the Post is false,” the congressman’s chief of staff, Rick Bryant, told theGrio. “Congressman Jackson is running for re-election. He won a primary. He is gearing up to run. All of his supporters are still behind him 100 percent.” Bryant also pushed back against the Post’s sources, who claim Rev. Jackson is essentially running his son’s congressional office.

“They’re so off base, I don’t know where to begin,” Bryant said. “Reverend Jackson has not taken over [Jackson, Jr.'s] office, he’s not managing our media. He has nothing whatsoever to do with running our office. The whole thing is totally absurd.”

Regarding the Post, he added: “I have no idea who their sources are, but they are totally unreliable [and] misinformed.”

You know, there's a lot more mystery here that probably won't be seen in the press.

Rev. Jackson: Son has no plans to retire from Congress - Chicago Sun-Times

This was news yesterday and probably a good retort to the report from Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed reported from CBS2 as was seen on this blog Friday. Certainly many of us can believe Congressman Jackson isn't ready to hang up his political career yet.

Rev. Jackson: Son has no plans to retire from Congress - Chicago Sun-Times

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is not planning to retire from public office as a result of his depression, the Rev. Jesse Jackson said Saturday, a day after his daughter-in-law told the Sun-Times the congressman has been “debilitated by depression.”

The elder Jackson icon also said that no time line exists yet for his son’s recovery at the Mayo Clinic. “I can’t chase rumors,” Jackson said after his weekly broadcast at Rainbow PUSH Saturday morning.

Ald. Sandi Jackson told Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed in an exclusive interview Friday that her husband is “completely debilitated by depression.”

“They are now trying to find out if his depression, which has not yet been diagnosed as a bipolar disorder, is connected to the weight-loss surgery. We don’t know,” she told Sneed.

CBS Chicago: Rep. Jackson Has Considered Ending Political Career

What do you all think of this? Is it time for Jesse Jackson Jr. to give it up and focus on his health?

As WBBM Newsradio’s Bernie Tafoya reports, Jackson has not been seen publicly for almost two months. The Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., says he is there being treated for depression and abdominal issues, and according to a source who talked to Chicago Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed, Jackson has thought about ending his political career.

The source tells Sneed that Jackson is “very aware his re-election bid is in November,” and is “under intense pressure to make a statement personally about his situation.”

The source also said Jackson’s wife, Ald. Sandi Jackson (7th) is under pressure to return to work, Sneed reported.

Crain's: Rep. Jackson at Mayo Clinic for 'depression,' 'gastrointestinal issues'

Now we get more answers on the condition of Congressman Jackson who has been on medical leave from the US House of Representatives for close to two months already.

U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is being treated at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota for "depression and gastrointestinal issues."

The clinic released a statement tonight on behalf of Mr. Jackson that read:

"Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. has arrived at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., for extensive inpatient evaluation for depression and gastrointestinal issues. Further information will be released as Congressman Jackson's evaluation proceeds. Congressman Jackson and his family are grateful for the outpouring of support and prayers that have been received throughout his care."

The news comes a few weeks after Mr. Jackson's office said the congressman was being treated for "a mood disorder."

BTW, Chicago Argus gets into this act as well. He talked to Jackson's Republican opponent in addition to this paragraph:

Now I don’t mean to demean the seriousness of Jackson’s physical or emotional health. He is in a stressful position, and I’m sure there are times when the hassles are hard to cope with. It just makes me wonder how less stressful this situation could have been for him in recent weeks if his camp had just come forth with some details up front.

Indeed!

Tribune: Rep. Jackson under treatment for mood disorder, staff says

For those who are concerned it seems finally have some answers today!

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., whose mysterious month-long leave of absence has prompted calls for more disclosure, is at a residential treatment facility for a mood disorder, his doctor said in a statement released by the congressman's chief of staff this evening.

The statement said information about Jackson’s treatment is protected by federal law and that the attending physician’s name and treatment center “will not be disclosed in order to protect (Jackson’s) continuing privacy.”

Earlier, an NBC report said that Jackson was being treated in Arizona for alcoholism, but after the report aired, Rick Bryant, Jackson’s chief of staff, released an email statement saying that “rumors about him being treated for alcohol or substance abuse are not true.”

The statement quoted the unnamed Jackson doctor saying: "The congressman is receiving intensive medical treatment at a residential treatment facility for a mood disorder. He is responding positively to treatment."

Earlier today, Ald. Sandi Jackson, said she is hopeful physicians will release details soon about her husband.

“I’m hopeful that my husband’s doctors will be able to release something soon,” she told the Tribune. “I’m in constant talks with them about Jesse’s condition and his medical prognosis going forward.”

Rep. Jesse Jackson, 47, a Chicago Democrat, has been on a medical leave since June 10, but his aides and family have declined to disclose the nature of his medical problem, where he is being treated or when he may return to work.

What going on with Congressman Jackson?

This has been an emerging story since it broke last month. Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. has been on medical leave from the US Congress since June 10, 2012 and it had been only recently publicized two weeks after that date. Still even more recently we learned that his condition was more serious than thought. Because of this recent revelation, there are a flurry of stories where even Ald. Sawyer commented:

Ald. Roderick Sawyer, 6th, whose ward includes a small part of the northwest corner of Jackson's 2nd Congressional District, said he was not worried that some of his constituents will be without House representation while Jackson is treated.

"Those of us around here will help out with constituent services," Sawyer said, adding that U.S. Reps. Bobby Rush and Danny Davis "will be very helpful in that regard."

Sawyer, who had no insight about Jackson's condition or whereabouts, said Jackson "needs to focus on getting well, concentrate on himself and his family, his wife and his children. Those are the important things now."