Jesse Jackson Jr. Denies Allegations He Offered to Raise Money for Blagojevich

Illinois Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., responded on Tuesday to allegations that he offered to raise money for Rod Blagojevich

/ AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast

Democratic Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. denied allegations on Tuesday that he offered to raise millions of dollars in campaign financing for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich in exchange for an appointment to the Senate seat then being vacated by President Obama.

He also apologized in reference to reports surrounding his interactions with a female "social acquaintance," which he called a "private and personal matter."

According to a report by the Chicago Sun-Times, Raghuveer Nayak, an Oak Brook businessman who had done campaign fundraising for both Blagojevich and Jackson, said that in 2008 Jackson directed him to tell Blagojevich that he would donate a combined $6 million in political contributions if appointed Mr. Obama's Senate seat.

Jackson called the allegations "preposterous," according to a statement obtained by CBS News, and noted that the assertions were not new. "I've already talked with the authorities about these claims, told them they were false, and no charges have been brought against me," Jackson said in the statement.

"The very idea of raising millions of dollars for a campaign other than my own is preposterous. My interest in the Senate seat was based on years of public service, which I am proud of, not some improper scheme with anyone," Jackson said.

Nayak also told authorities that, per Jackson's request, he twice paid for a female "social acquaintance" of Jackson's, the Washington-based restaurant hostess Giovana Huidobro, to fly to Chicago, according to the Sun-Times.

"The reference to a social acquaintance is a private and personal matter between me and my wife that was handled some time ago. I ask that you respect our privacy," Jackson said. "I know I have disappointed some supporters, and for that I am deeply sorry. But I remain committed to serving my constituents and fighting on their behalf."

Jackson's wife, alderman Sandi Jackson, said in a statement that the information regarding her husband's acquaintance had been "a very private, painful and unfortunate situation" that "my family and I have been privately addressing for several months."

Both Jesse and Sandi Jackson are thought to be considering a bid in the Chicago mayoral race, although Sandi recently downplayed the possibility of her own entrance.

Jackson Jr., who has been meeting with a variety of potential contenders for the position - including White House Chief of Staff Rahm Emanuel - recently said during a radio interview that prosecutors with any evidence of his wrongdoing regarding the Blagojevich case should "bring it on."

Watch CBS 2 Chicago's Report on Jesse Jackson Jr.:

Local Video from CBS 2 in Chicago

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Lucy Madison is a political reporter for CBSNews.com. You can read more of her posts here. Follow Hotsheet on Facebook and Twitter.

[markusjones247]

Mr. Jackson has to be given a chance to clear his name. Although, this sounds all too familiar. Like Father, Like Son? I hope not. I really admire him and his style but usually politics are politics no matter who is involved. Why these wanna be concubines when you have a beautiful and intelligent woman at home???

[kato1997]

This is a shame. I saw him at his graduation from Northwestern when we lived in Illinois and was impressed. I also met his father, whom I was not impresssed. I'm asian and asked his father why he never refers to yellow in his description of the rainbow coalition and he became flustered and "fake" in his response. It's too bad that his son, now is following in similar footsteps.

[AshleyArt]

The reality is there are just as many crooked Republicans as well. This has nothing to do with a particular party. It has to with whether or not a person has integrity.

[hhoward2010]

Do you guys tell any other news besided black slander news? Look at your feature page, it could have been written by Jet. Unbias, is all we ask from a news reporting group.

[JohnT99]

Has it ever occured to you that maybe their feature page looks like it could be written by Jet becuase the majority of Chicago's politicians, African-American or not, are probably crooked. They didn't choose for Jessie Jackson Jr. to offer a bribe...they just reported what they were told. Way to try and play the race card to take the attention off of where it needs to be.

[tsigili]

The Chicago "mob" is still very much in control.