Rep. Jesse Jackson Defends Infidelity
Rep. Jesse Jackson says he's "deeply sorry" about his "social" relationship with a woman other than his wife, but he denied a separate allegation that he directed a Chicago-area businessman to offer former Gov. Rod Blagojevich $6 million in exchange for a vacant U.S. Senate seat.
"I know I have disappointed some supporters, and for that I am deeply sorry," he said, according the Chicago Sun-Times. "But I remain committed to serving my constituents and fighting on their behalf."
The Chicago newspaper said Oak Brook businessman Raghuveer Nayak, a Jackson fundraiser, has told federal authorities that Jackson asked him to offer Blagojevich $6 million if the then-governor would name him to Barack Obama's Senate seat in 2009. Nayak also said, at Jackson's request, he paid for two plane trips between Chicago and Washington for a restaurant hostess named Giovana Huidobro.
Jackson (D-Ill.) acknowledged knowing Huidobro, calling her a "social acquaintance." That's a private matter, he said "between me and my wife that was handled some time ago. I ask you to respect our privacy." Having a third party pay for flights would appear to constitute gifts to a congressman, which must be reported in ethics disclosure statements, the Sun-Times said. But Jackson made no such disclosures in his House ethics filings.
As for any offer to Blagojevich, Jackson said the charges about fundraising and the Senate seat were not new. "I've already talked with the authorities about these claims, told hem they were false, and no charges have been brought against me."
Blagojevich was impeached and removed from office by the Illinois legislature. His first federal trial on corruption charges -- including the claim that he tried to sell the Obama seat -- ended in a hung jury on 23 counts and one conviction for lying to the FBI.
Jackson, in his eighth term, is the son of civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson. See Chick's BUSTED.
"I know I have disappointed some supporters, and for that I am deeply sorry," he said, according the Chicago Sun-Times. "But I remain committed to serving my constituents and fighting on their behalf."
The Chicago newspaper said Oak Brook businessman Raghuveer Nayak, a Jackson fundraiser, has told federal authorities that Jackson asked him to offer Blagojevich $6 million if the then-governor would name him to Barack Obama's Senate seat in 2009. Nayak also said, at Jackson's request, he paid for two plane trips between Chicago and Washington for a restaurant hostess named Giovana Huidobro.
Jackson (D-Ill.) acknowledged knowing Huidobro, calling her a "social acquaintance." That's a private matter, he said "between me and my wife that was handled some time ago. I ask you to respect our privacy." Having a third party pay for flights would appear to constitute gifts to a congressman, which must be reported in ethics disclosure statements, the Sun-Times said. But Jackson made no such disclosures in his House ethics filings.
As for any offer to Blagojevich, Jackson said the charges about fundraising and the Senate seat were not new. "I've already talked with the authorities about these claims, told hem they were false, and no charges have been brought against me."
Blagojevich was impeached and removed from office by the Illinois legislature. His first federal trial on corruption charges -- including the claim that he tried to sell the Obama seat -- ended in a hung jury on 23 counts and one conviction for lying to the FBI.
Jackson, in his eighth term, is the son of civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson. See Chick's BUSTED.
posted by chickcomics | 3:48 PM
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