Report: Jesse Jackson Jr. faces ethics probe

[sabra]

Source: Chicago Tribune/AP

CHICAGO - An independent panel that reviews possible ethical lapses by members of the House of Representatives has launched a preliminary review of U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.'s efforts to be appointed to the U.S. Senate by ousted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, according to a published report.

The Office of Congressional Ethics voted in late March for the review, the Chicago Sun-Times reported in a story posted Tuesday on its Web site, citing documents released to parties involved in the inquiry.

The committee has asked for documents, e-mails and other correspondence from Blagojevich's gubernatorial and campaign staff regarding Jackson, Jackson's brother Jonathan and his campaign staff, the Sun-Times reported, citing lawyers close to the probe. It requested information from June through December 2008.

The panel reportedly began its work last Thursday, the same day a federal grand jury indicted Blagojevich on corruption charges that, among other things, he schemed to sell the Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama to the highest bidder. Blagojevich denies wrongdoing.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-il-jackson-ethicspro,0,2891885.story

[MADem]

1. Uh oh.... nt

[burning rain]

2. JJ Jr. certainly seemed ill at ease during some interviews.....

where he was asked about possible corruption in the Senate appointment affair.

[stillcool]

3. He was an informant...

I guess it is logical that this would follow..

[Tab]

4. Not surprised

The cheating opportunistic bastard

[Name removed]

5. Deleted message

Message removed by moderator. Click here to review the message board rules.

[EFerrari]

7. Enjoy your stay at DU and welcome to ignore.

[firedupdem]

9. you sound like you're doing a good job yourself n/t

[EFerrari]

6. So instead of being indicted for war crimes himself, Porter Goss is going to down Jackson.

How sweet it is.

[mucifer]

8. Jesse Jr's sister has a radio show in Chicago 9a- noon central time.

Should be interesting. Santita Jackson is a childhood friend of Michelle Obama and does have some criticism from the left towards President Obama. I wonder what she will be saying tomorrow about her brother. http://wvon.com/personality/santitajackson/blog/

[OKNancy]

10. kick

[cali]

11. Congressional Panel Opens Ethics Inquiry Into Rep. Jackson

Source: NYT


CHICAGO — Representative Jesse L. Jackson Jr. of Illinois confirmed Wednesday that a Congressional ethics office had begun a preliminary inquiry into his efforts last fall to win appointment by Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich to the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama.

Blagojevich, removed from office by the Illinois legislature in January, was indicted last week in a federal corruption case that includes charges that he sought to barter his appointment power for campaign contributions and other favors.

That Mr. Jackson is under preliminary inquiry in Congress was first reported Tuesday afternoon, on the Web site of The Chicago Sun-Times. In confirming the investigation Wednesday, Mr. Jackson, a Democrat from the city’s South Side, said he had done nothing wrong and was confident that the panel would dismiss the matter.

The Office of Congressional Ethics, which is conducting the review, began operations this year, and its questions about Mr. Jackson amount to its first known inquiry.

<snip>

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/09/us/politics/09jackson.html

[Demeter]

12. Is there Any Reason to Believe Impropriety Occurred?

Or is this just take a pot shot at tarring Jackson with contamination by Blago?

[GinaMaria]

13. Not sure. They may be testing

to see if anything shakes loose? I'm sure there are many others who will be looked at in connection with Blag. There's plenty of tar to go around. I suspect it may just get to the point where all someone has to do to win an election is show a photoshopped pic of their opponent with Blago. He really made a mess of Illinois politics, where we had it relatively easy easy as Democrats. Illinois republicans are a crazy lot. They eat each other for breakfast. They are a very fractured party here. Thanks to Blago and Burris, Obama's former Senate seat will be more difficult to hang on to.

[Demeter]

14. So Somebody's Going Fishing?

[No Elephants]

15. I suspect the ultimate l target is Obama. They will either implicate him or smear so much

dirt around that the mere fact he is a Chicago Democrat will in itself seem dirty. I saw Repukes doing that on message boards during the primary to both him and Michelle, as in "mired in the Chicago machine." And that term can also be applied to a lot of their friends who are in Washington now.

Watch out for innuendo and attempts to smear guilt by association and smack right back whenever either rears its repugnant head! If they succeed in smearing Barack Obama 2010 and 2012 are going to be tough, tough years for Democrats everywhere.

That may well be their only hope, so they will give it everything they've got and, unfortunately, no Democrat in either House is a Gingrich or a DeLay (in terms of stomping on the opposition), so they are going to get a lot of room.

[pattmarty]

16. I like Jackson jr and it would really be a shame if they found any impropriety.

[TEmperorHasNoClothes]

17. I hope he's cleared but....

it won't stop the bigots.