Dec. 10, 2008

Jesse Jackson Jr. Is "Candidate No. 5"

Jackson Is Unnamed Figure In Blagojevich Indictment, According To Attorney; Jackson Says He Is Not Target Of Investigation

    • In this Nov. 9, 2006 file picture, U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., speaks at a news conference in Chicago. Jackson's attorney confirmed Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008, in Chicago that Jackson is Photo

      In this Nov. 9, 2006 file picture, U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., speaks at a news conference in Chicago. Jackson's attorney confirmed Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008, in Chicago that Jackson is "Senate Candidate 5" referred to in the corruption case against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.  (AP Photo/Charles Rex Arbogast)

    • Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., D-Ill. walks to his office in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008. Photo

      Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., D-Ill. walks to his office in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008.  (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite)

    • In this Monday, Aug. 25, 2008 picture, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., speaks at the Democratic National Convention in Denver. Photo

      In this Monday, Aug. 25, 2008 picture, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., speaks at the Democratic National Convention in Denver.  (AP Photo/Ron Edmonds)

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  • Play CBS Video Video Illinois Gov. Shakedown

    The FBI has arrested Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich in an alleged corruption scandal, reports Dean Reynolds. Chip Reid reports on the RNC's attempt to link the Gov. to Barack Obama.

  • Video Reactions To Ill. Corruption

    Clarence Page of the Chicago Tribune and Lynn Sweet of the Chicago Sun-Times discuss the embattled Ill. Gov. Rod Blagojevich with Harry Smith and his effect on Obama's transition to the White House.

  • Video Scandal For Blagojevich

    Josh Kraushaar, Reporter for Politico, takes a look at the alleged scandal involving Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich that's rocking the country.

  • Interactive Political Scandals

    Politics can be a strange and dirty business. Check out some of the biggest missteps and mishaps in recent history.

(CBS/AP)  A lawyer for U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. says the congressman is the "Senate Candidate 5" mentioned in the federal corruption complaint against Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

The governor, a second-term Democrat, was arrested and accused of scheming to enrich himself by selling President-elect Barack Obama's open Senate seat for cash or a lucrative job for himself or his wife.

According to the 76-page federal complaint, Blagojevich "stated he might be able to cut a deal with Senate Candidate 5 that provided" the governor with something "tangible up front," presumably campaign money.

In an afternoon news conference Wednesday, Jackson said he did not approach the governor about an inappropriate deal or authorize an emissary to do so. He said that the U.S. attorney's office indicated to him Tuesday that he is "not a target of this investigation."

"I want to make this fact plan: I reject and denounce pay-to-play politics, and have no involvement whatsoever in any wrongdoing," Jackson said.

"I thought, mistakenly, that the process was fair," he said.

Jackson, a seven-term House member and son of civil rights activist Jesse Jackson, did not confirm that he is Candidate No. 5 during the press conference. He declined to take questions from the media on the advice of his attorney.

Jackson told reporters that he met with Blagojevich on Monday to discuss the position and present his qualifications in an appropriate way. He said he "thought that the governor was evaluating me fairly.”

Jackson learned he was mentioned in the complaint against Blagojevich the night before the governor's arrest on Tuesday, his attorney said.

On Oct. 31st, according to the complaint, Blagojevich indicated during a conversation that he had been approached by an emissary of Senate Candidate No. 5.

"We were approached 'pay to play,'" the governor allegedly said. "That, you know, he'd raise me 500 grand. An emissary came. Then the other guy would raise a million, if I made him a senator."

Quote

I thought, mistakenly, that the process was fair.

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.
There is no independent evidence that Jackson or an emissary approached the governor about an improper deal, according to officials.

Jackson's Chicago-based lawyer, James D. Montgomery Sr., said, "politicians and fundraisers do some very strange things from time to time. I wouldn't put it past someone to be purporting to represent Jesse without authority."

©MMVIII, CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Add a Comment See all 123 Comments
by pugster December 10, 2008 7:13 PM EST
Looks like this brother is loaded.
Reply to this comment
by mercurygrand December 10, 2008 7:15 PM EST
Jackson Jr. busted!
Reply to this comment
by mrmeatspin December 10, 2008 7:16 PM EST
THIS IS CHANGE WE CAN ALL BELIEVE IN..!!
Reply to this comment
by mrmeatspin December 10, 2008 7:18 PM EST
did I overheard someone that ophra is retiring show business and getting into politics????????

and political office is for sale?? ophra with billions??

hummmm THIS IS CHANGE WE CAN ALL BELIEVE IN
Reply to this comment
by mrmeatspin December 10, 2008 7:19 PM EST
Speaking of racist....


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Posted by demdump at 04:18 PM : Dec 10, 2008
+ report abuse

******RACISM ENDED WHEN OBAMA WAS ELECTED*****

What we are going to see NOW is REVERSE racism
Reply to this comment
by mrmeatspin December 10, 2008 7:21 PM EST
Pelosi will be our savior.



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Posted by demdump at 04:19 PM : Dec 10, 2008
+ report abuse


********

PELOSI is too busy trying to impeach bush..WAIT!! is she still doing that?? OR.....OR.. she never really going to do that.??

ahh the DNC...the change we can all believe in..
Reply to this comment
by nikosk11 December 10, 2008 7:23 PM EST
Well, let us be fair. There are so many Republican crooks and some in jail that we must have a couple of Dems join in, to balance things out. After all we are a democracy. Right?

Reply to this comment
by mrmeatspin December 10, 2008 7:26 PM EST
white folk is doomed in America....


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Posted by Hackerpc at 04:25 PM : Dec 10, 2008
+ report abuse


********

reverse racism begins.............. NOW
Reply to this comment
by mrmeatspin December 10, 2008 7:30 PM EST
do we miss the republicans yet??

I will ask that question again in a year
Reply to this comment
by seriously121 December 10, 2008 7:33 PM EST
Come on guys give it a break!!! You know this stuff isn''t true. But you really want it to be!!!
Reply to this comment
by zykracosmos December 10, 2008 7:35 PM EST
I am ashamed to admit that Obama will be our president.




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Posted by Joe10005 at 04:33 PM : Dec 10, 2008
------------------------

Oh get over it Joe.
Reply to this comment
by parrot2ok December 10, 2008 7:38 PM EST
Well, let us be fair. There are so many Republican crooks and some in jail that we must have a couple of Dems join in, to balance things out. After all we are a democracy. Right?
Posted by nikosk11 at 04:23 PM : Dec 10, 2008



The Repug party that gave us Allen, Ney, Cunningham, Delay, Ravenel, Doolittle, Miller, Lewis, Renzi, Kott, Kohring, Vitter, Stevens, Foley, Tony Rudy, Buckham, Ring, Safavian, Libby, Norton, Foggo, Ted Haggard, Craig, Rosenthal, Richard Curtis, Bernard Kerik, Fred Thompson, Phillip Martin, Billy O''Reilly, Rush L, Newt G, Mark Sijander, Murkowski, Jim Clark, Goeglein, Sixto, A Jackson, Zirkle, C J Ward, Ullman, Vito Fossella, Charles R. Black, Jim Gibbons (NV), Sara ''Per-Diem on a Lipstick'' Palin and now Sam %u2018Joe the Plumber%u2019. DDump & Joe really should be ashamed of themselves. Cheers!
Reply to this comment
by netadmin1-2009 December 10, 2008 7:41 PM EST
I believe at this time - it really doesn''t matter who anyone voted for - Obama was elected and we, as Americans, need to support him as the leader of our country. Give him a chance - if he doesn''t do the job - we can try again in 4 years.
Reply to this comment
by dangyankee69 December 10, 2008 7:42 PM EST
Maybe Uncle Teddy needs to sit down wit his boy and splane to him how this stuff sposed to work. Cuz he may be POTUSE but he''s ac''in like a foo.
Reply to this comment
by dangyankee69 December 10, 2008 7:46 PM EST
The Repug party that gave us Allen, Ney, Cunningham, Delay, Ravenel, Doolittle, Miller, Lewis, Renzi, Kott, Kohring, Vitter, Stevens, Foley, Tony Rudy, Buckham, Ring, Safavian, Libby, Norton, Foggo, Ted Haggard, Craig, Rosenthal, Richard Curtis, Bernard Kerik, Fred Thompson, Phillip Martin, Billy O''''Reilly, Rush L, Newt G, Mark Sijander, Murkowski, Jim Clark, Goeglein, Sixto, A Jackson, Zirkle, C J Ward, Ullman, Vito Fossella, Charles R. Black, Jim Gibbons (NV), Sara ''''Per-Diem on a Lipstick'''' Palin and now Sam %u2018Joe the Plumber%u2019. DDump & Joe really should be ashamed of themselves. Cheers!

Amazing how hard they had to work to get even for Bubba "Sometimes a Smoke is just a smoke, and sometimes it''s more" Clinton.
Reply to this comment
by ddaryl1 December 10, 2008 7:47 PM EST
LMAO at the republicans who fail to admit all or even allow a look into all the skeletons in Bush and Cheney''s closet.

maybe there is no connections here, and if there was connections don''t you think they would have come out by now...

any way you slice it, a piece of dog poop on the bottom of your shoe is better then a republican. At least for thoise of us who''ve paid attention over the last 8 years, and the from 1980 - 1992

Reply to this comment
by dangyankee69 December 10, 2008 7:49 PM EST
any way you slice it, a piece of dog poop on the bottom of your shoe is better then a republican. At least for thoise of us who''''ve paid attention over the last 8 years, and the from 1980 - 1992

And you voted for "Poop on your Shoe", that''s a heck of a nickname for the leader of the free world. Thanks
Reply to this comment
by dave_p5 December 10, 2008 7:51 PM EST
I am ashamed to admit that Obama will be our president. ----------------------------------------
-------------- Posted by Joe10005

Um, guys...Blagojevich was dropping the f bomb on Obama because all he''d get from him was "appreciation". How is that Obama being involved in this? The FBI has been taping Blagojevich''s calls, I think we''d know by now if Obama was involved.

We''re going to do just fine with Obama as President, you''ll see.
Reply to this comment
by mytoosense December 10, 2008 7:51 PM EST
I''m throwing a Bye Bye Bushit Bash in January.
I may need more than one Keg.
Reply to this comment
by gmony75052 December 10, 2008 7:52 PM EST
I am responding to Mrmeatspin,
Would love to meet you just to see if you can use the language in your post to my face or any African Americans face. Some of you are funny, you do not hesitate to use racist language in these posts but I would like to see how many of you have the guts to say it. No, you and those like you hide behind computers, hoods, whatever you want to call it. Hey you all got OJ so be happy about that . besides, Obama won fair which is more than I can say for Bush
Reply to this comment
by summarex December 10, 2008 8:00 PM EST
I tend to trust Obama. But he seems to be handing over all the jobs to the old Clinton mafia and a few Chicago gangsters like that son of a TRUE terrorist Emmanuuel. I wonder if it might be better for everyone if Obama got caught up in this mess and was unable to assume office. Not sure.
Reply to this comment
by dangyankee69 December 10, 2008 8:01 PM EST
If Blago knew he was getting nothing from Obama, how did he know that unless someone from Obamas camp told him so.
Posted by CPelzar

Are you kidding? The chances are that Blago was told that what he was getting was the chance to rake it in on the appointment. Chicago Politics crooked? Since when? Oh Yeah since someone pinched the dang cow so they could claim the insurance money.
Reply to this comment
by biblethumpar December 10, 2008 8:02 PM EST
CPelzar, where on this Story or the FBI website has it been said
Obama was arreested or inplicated in any way,
the Media would be all over it.....
Reply to this comment
by notblue December 10, 2008 8:05 PM EST
This story is about a corrupt Democrat and all the bloggers at these posts can do is critisizers republicans! Typical!
Reply to this comment
by mercurygrand December 10, 2008 8:06 PM EST
Jesse Jackson Jr. bag man will roll. Jesse Jackson Jr. should resign from office.
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 10, 2008 8:07 PM EST
If Blago knew he was getting nothing from Obama, how did he know that unless someone from Obamas camp told him so.


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Posted by CPelzar at 04:57 PM

Who cares? Obama obviously wasn''t playing. Got a problem with that?
Reply to this comment
by likeitis5050 December 10, 2008 8:08 PM EST
To all of you that when faced with an Obama scandal bring up GW as your comeback, what you are saying is that Obama is no better.

I thought he was the one for "Change".


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Posted by CPelzar

They''re hoping and praying we buy that argument. They know better. It''s just that admitting they jumped on board a train wreck, after numerous warnings, is not something they can deal with right now. In a year or two when it''s apparent they they number in the millions of silly sheep, it won''t matter any more.
Reply to this comment
by nic1234567-2009 December 10, 2008 8:08 PM EST
Uh, I`m pretty sure that if Barry O. can`t make it on January 20th, the guy with the second-most votes wins!
That would be,
uh,
oh yeah...

John ''''McSame, McLame, McBush'''' McCain ! ! !

~ Yipee ~ Posted by DaVicar1

You would be wrong then. Section 3 of the Twentieth Amendment to the United States Constitution states that if the President elect shall have failed to qualify, then the Vice President elect shall act as President until a President shall have qualified; and the Congress may by law provide for the case wherein neither a President elect nor a Vice President elect shall have qualified, declaring who shall then act as President, or the manner in which one who is to act shall be selected, and such person shall act accordingly until a President or Vice President shall have qualified.
Reply to this comment
by hawksprings December 10, 2008 8:09 PM EST
Now that these details have come out, I think in light of this situation, the right thing to do is to award this Senate Seat to Sarah Palin.
Poetic Justice and all.
Reply to this comment
by likeitis5050 December 10, 2008 8:10 PM EST
Posted by CPelzar at 04:57 PM

Who cares? Obama obviously wasn''''t playing. Got a problem with that?


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Posted by rudy6543

Aren''t you the same one who didn''t want to hear any kind of justification for anything regarding Bush...so stuff it. Learn to live with this kind of questioning...it''s going to be a long 4 years but eventually you''ll be sick of saying ''what ever'' and realize you''re one of 65 million idiots he conned.
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 10, 2008 8:10 PM EST
Before 9/11 all the energy executives had a private meeting with Cheney. A meeting we haven''t been allowed access to even though it was done on our dime. But we know that Bush refused to step in when Enron decided to extort money. Cheney is in fact indicted, yet the major news organizations have said nothing. Strange that you ninnies want Obama to be guilty of something when you have enough scandal in your own back yard to deal with.
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 10, 2008 8:12 PM EST
Posted by likeitis5050 at 05:10 PM

I am completely unaware of what you are talking about, nor do I understand the content of your post, at all.
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 10, 2008 8:13 PM EST
You bedwetter neocons are so hoping this is a scandal about Obama. You are a desperate bunch, but you''re also unstable mentally.
Reply to this comment
by biblethumpar December 10, 2008 8:13 PM EST
When a Democrat Behaves like a Republican,
time to clean house,
indict him..
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 10, 2008 8:17 PM EST
Posted by CPelzar at 05:16 PM

Get real. They aren''t even friends.
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 10, 2008 8:19 PM EST
Obamas list of friends is shrinking by each scandal that comes out.


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Posted by CPelzar at 05:18 PM

Wrong. This scandal has nothing to do with Obama, period.
Reply to this comment
by hawksprings December 10, 2008 8:21 PM EST
"Obama surrounds himself with all of these questionable people and it is not rationale to think he know nothing about all of this. especially since your types think he the smartest person alive.
He could be the smartest dumb person if you consider he associates."
Posted by CPelzar

Obama''s either the most naive person on the planet or he''s lying.
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 10, 2008 8:22 PM EST
Obama''''s either the most naive person on the planet or he''''s lying.


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Posted by HawkSprings at 05:21 PM

I think you are talking about Bush and 9/11.
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 10, 2008 8:22 PM EST
Remember when they outed Valery Plame and Bush pretended not to know anything about it?

Was he the most ignorant person walking the earth or was he lying, or both?
Reply to this comment
by ericv2644 December 10, 2008 8:23 PM EST
I have every confidence in the Rep. Jessie Jackson Jr. despite his father being an xxxxxxx in trying to steal the lime light every chance he gets.
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 10, 2008 8:24 PM EST
Posted by melnycgirl6 at 05:21 PM

Do your remember Palin claiming executive privilege as a Governor in order avoid a subpoena? I wonder why this crook couldn''t have done the same thing to avoid an arrest?
Reply to this comment
by hawksprings December 10, 2008 8:24 PM EST
Wait til something bad about Michelle comes out.

Obama will say he never knew her.
Reply to this comment
by rudy6543 December 10, 2008 8:26 PM EST
Wait til something bad about Michelle comes out.

Posted by HawkSprings at 05:24 PM

Why wait? Just go to the toilet after she finishes.
Reply to this comment
by toolmangler-2009 December 10, 2008 8:26 PM EST
Obamas list of friends is shrinking by each scandal that comes out.
Posted by CPelzar at 05:18 PM



Only in your dreams, You Obama haters are the sickest of the Repugs.
Reply to this comment
by mtminds December 10, 2008 8:27 PM EST
Jackson or Kennedy, why does "the" brand mean so much to fools?
Reply to this comment
by dave_p5 December 10, 2008 8:28 PM EST
"Now that these details have come out, I think in light of this situation, the right thing to do is to award this Senate Seat to Sarah Palin.
Poetic Justice and all." - HawkSprings

*GUFFAW* Better yet, let''s give it to Daffy Duck.
Reply to this comment
by ldvuong December 10, 2008 8:32 PM EST
Politicians and lawyers, especially the Democrats, have problems with honesty. It is understandable. It is only the beginning, as Obama and those who for him are no angels either.
Reply to this comment
by kershaw_31 December 10, 2008 8:32 PM EST
Obamas list of friends is shrinking by each scandal that comes out.

Posted by CPelzar at 05:18 PM

You are obviously stupid and delusional. Pres-elect OBAMA had nothing to do with this. It amazes me how some of you people are not able to think logically. I actually hope and pray one day that most of Americans will learn to use just a little common sense that the Good Lord blessed us with. I am so glad that he won. I have no doubt that he will be one of our better presidents. (He definitely cannot do worse than the current POTUS - who probably should have been impeached).
Reply to this comment
by cpelzar--2008 December 10, 2008 8:33 PM EST
Denial is not a river in Egypt my friend.
Reply to this comment
by toolmangler-2009 December 10, 2008 8:33 PM EST
it''s going to be a long 4 years but eventually you''ll be sick of saying ''what ever'''' and realize you''re one of 65 million idiots he conned.

Posted by likeitis5050 at 05:10 PM : Dec 10, 2008




I tried for 7 months after 9/11/01 to justify Bushes actions since I voted for him the first time. Absolutely no way can you justify treason. Get over it and find someone you have checked out better that you did the shrub. I did, now let the man get into the white house before you start making up lies about him....
Reply to this comment
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