Jackson Spoke To Feds About Blagojevich

Ill. Congressman's Campaign Snub Cost Wife Job Promised By Governor, Source Says

(CBS/ AP)  Shortly after his 2002 election, Gov. Rod Blagojevich told U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson he'd planned to appoint Jackson's wife as state lottery director but didn't because the congressman refused his request for a $25,000 campaign donation, a person familiar with the conversation told The Associated Press Tuesday.

"Blagojevich went out of his way to say, 'You know I was considering your wife for the lottery job and the $25,000 you didn't give me? That's why she's not getting the job,"' the person said, speaking on the condition of anonymity because of the ongoing federal investigation.

Jackson spokesman Kenneth Edmonds declined to comment on the account, but said Jackson has approached federal investigators to discuss the governor and others for years.

"He has shared information with federal prosecutors about public corruption during the past several years, including information about Blagojevich and others," Edmonds said.

Randall Samborn, spokesman for the U.S. Attorney's office in Chicago, declined to comment, as did Blagojevich spokesman Lucio Guerrero. WLS-TV in Chicago first reported the exchange.

Jackson's name has played prominently ever since Blagojevich was arrested last week on corruption charges that include allegations he tried to sell or trade President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat for personal gain.

Jackson has acknowledged being the unnamed "Senate Candidate 5" referenced in the federal criminal complaint against Blagojevich. The complaint quotes Blagojevich as saying on federal wiretaps that an associate of the candidate offered to raise money for him if he picked the candidate to fill Obama's seat.

Jackson has acknowledged openly seeking the position, but denies initiating or authorizing anyone to promise anything to Blagojevich on his behalf. The congressman has said federal prosecutors have told him he is not a target of their investigation.

The person did not know whether Jackson's wife, Sandi, who has since been elected to the Chicago City Council, had asked for the state lottery job. At the time, Blagojevich was the first incoming Democratic governor after years of Republican rule and had scores of state jobs to fill.

"The governor had kind of penciled Sandi in as lottery director and then asked for contributions from the congressman," the person said.

Sandi Jackson did not immediately return a call to her office seeking comment.

In April, the Chicago Tribune reported that an examination of campaign donations to Blagojevich showed that three in four donors who gave exactly $25,000 received administration favors such as state board appointments or contracts.

It's also the same amount of money that figured prominently in the testimony of a government witness in the political corruption trial this summer of political fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko.

Ali Ata, the former executive director of the Illinois Finance Authority testified that Blagojevich spoke encouragingly about getting him a job in his administration after he personally brought him a $25,000 campaign contribution.

Rezko, who raised more than $1 million for Blagojevich's campaign fund, was convicted of shaking down businesses seeking state business for campaign contributions.

The person familiar with Jackson's discussions also said Tuesday that Jackson has spoken with federal investigators about a 2006 meeting with Rezko where the two discussed a proposed airport in Peotone, long considered a possible location for a third Chicago-area airport.

The person said Rezko told Jackson, a longtime proponent of the airport, that Blagojevich wanted to control the airport's board, but Jackson balked.

Meanwhile, Illinois lawmakers launched an unprecedented impeachment inquiry Tuesday against Blagojevich, who showed no sign of going down without a fight.

An impeachment panel met briefly and then adjourned until Wednesday, giving Blagojevich time to send a representative to the hearings, which may last into January.

Lawmakers on Monday shelved the idea of setting a special election where voters would fill the vacant Senate seat of President-elect Barack Obama.

But the House also voted 113-0 to create a bipartisan committee that will recommend whether Blagojevich should be impeached. That 21-member panel met for about an hour Tuesday, with members making speeches about the gravity of the scandal.

Committee chairwoman Rep. Barbara Flynn Currie, D-Chicago, began the meeting by saying the Blagojevich scandal had created a "crisis of confidence" in state government. But she cautioned panel members against moving too fast.

"Let us remember that we're not Alice in Wonderland. We're not the Red Queen. We do not sentence first and then do the verdict," she said.

"Frontier justice will not prevail in this proceeding. A rush to judgment does not serve the people of the state well."

[cmbtvet0311]

Ok fellas seems we have chased all the liberal back into their holes.....see you later. Thanks for the support, and majority 1: thanks for squaring me away about pompous comment....i''ll try to be more accomodating to the whining populous.

[cmbtvet0311]

I cant''''t find anyone who wants me to send them The Obama card with Michelle and that big $200k smile on it from Blago and that 6 figures from fannie. You want one? Can''''t seem to give one away now---------------------------------Posted by specialty8

You can send me some I need tinder for the fireplace and some TP.

[specialty8]

txgrouch,
I cant''t find anyone who wants me to send them The Obama card with Michelle and that big $200k smile on it from Blago and that 6 figures from fannie. You want one? Can''t seem to give one away now.

[cmbtvet0311]

For the record i didn''t post that comment about the coins and such, I just posted the plates comment as extra ammo. Sorry fellas, I''ll remember to add a works cited page to my post....

[cmbtvet0311]

I can even go on TV right now and by my Obama coins and Obama christmas cards.

Don''t forget your commemorative Osama (excuse me, must have gotten the keys mixed up) plates advertised on television.

[specialty8]

I can''t beleive someone would come on here and talk anti-democratic media.Seems every picture of the choosen one with the special effects lighting had a halo around his head.I can even go on TV right now and by my Obama coins and Obama christmas cards.You should have known once the dogs were called off Palin they had to find a new tree to bark at.

[cmbtvet0311]

And to you as well. Semper Forever!!

[cmbtvet0311]

Why is there an evident media bias against Democrats before Obama has even entered the White House?---------------------------
Seriously? What news have you been watching? All I have heard is how he is going to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. The only bad press he has recieved was his potential connections to the blago scandal.

[likenoone-2009]

There is going to be a depression now who do you think
is going to the sacrifical goat

[likenoone-2009]

If a politician is moveing his lips he''s lyiny

[cmbtvet0311]

Sorry Marine, thats the problem with writing on these blogs no emotion seems to make everybody sound pompous.

Just to clarify: It wasn''t meant to sound pompous. And it apparently came across that way. Although, the comment by this individual is exactly the kind of trash that made me want to post my ideas and position on this blog in the first place. I have respected all of your views and would expect the same courtesy. So Xlib, I guess your right, unless I am a radical socialist, my views WON''T be respected. Cool, I''ve been fighting for years and will continue my battle against un-american democratic far-left facist pigs, and their conservative counterparts. They all hate each other and the fact is they share the same bed!!!!
IGNORANCE IS BLISS!!!!!!!

[likenoone-2009]

well little jesse jackson jr. won''t be a sentor the
U.S. senate don''t like sniches

[cmbtvet0311]

self-ag%u22C5gran%u22C5dize%u22C5ment%u2002 %u2002/%u02C8s%u025Blf%u0259%u02C8grfnd%u026Azm%u0259nt, %u02CCs%u025Blf-/ Show Spelled Pronunciation [self-uh-gran-diz-muhnt, self-] Show IPA Pronunciation

%u2013noun increase of one''s own power, wealth, etc., usually aggressively

First of all, Cry me a River JT. I''m NOT wealthy, mortagaged to the hilt in school debt, and going for more BECAUSE I decided to think for myself as opposed to being led to the slaughter.

If telling you I am an educated individual, attempting to engage in intelligent conversation makes your Vag hurt then good. Being called a "JURK" off makes me smile because if thats all you have to say then my job is done.

You obviously took my satement as a personal attack so,if the shoe fits: LACK OF EDUCATION. LAZINESS. GULIBILITY, then I guess you will wear it with pride for the rest of your days.

Sincerely yours,

Self-aggrandizing, pompous, ***

[cmbtvet0311]

Thanks again. Its good to know that my words aren''t falling on deaf ears as I am trying to write sensibly, which is clearly not the intention of some of these individuals.

No retorts from the left? Cat got your tongue? Or are you not able or willing to engage in intellectual conversation?

[cmbtvet0311]

Being an extremist at any point in time, ESPECIALLY now, is in my opinion unequivocally un-american.

[cmbtvet0311]

Furthermore, I have fought in two combat theatres, traveled more than half the world, and seen what extemist ideals on either side have created. Most of you haven''t been outside your county let alone the U.S. and really have NO CLUE what the REAL world contains, other than what you have read or seen in the "NEWS". On this note you are coming to conclusions largely made for you, not on what you actually believe or experienced. Do any of you know who stated "Democracy will fail when people start voting theselves money?" Sort of sounds like today''s society huh? Do you staunch Dems really believe that your officials care about what you want? They only care about power and money of which you may not have any of, yet you persevere. Noble, yet blind. Yes, the Pubs are no better I will agree, if they had their way the world would be a sweatshop. Let''s not lose sight of the prize....a healthy, functional, strong, country who is willing to set the example for the rest of the world to follow. To help other nations achieve success without bankrolling them. In short....demand accountability.

[cmbtvet0311]

Xlib: Thank you. I used to be very liberal until I went to college and got two, soon to be three, different degrees. I realized quickly that being conservative or liberal isn''t BAD, but being a extreme left or right wing supporter is just plain ignorant. Our country is in serious trouble and all this welfare policy diguised as bailouts only exacerbates the problem. I don''t feel it is our job as citizens to pay for corporate and financial mismanagement, but our politicians apparently feel it is. Are they going to pay for it? Not likely. If they were truly concerned with our welfare they would let the auto makers fail and restructure. Yes, this may be a consevative view, but to ask the UAW for a time table to become competitive with foreign auto makers in the U.S. doesn''t seem to me to be as bads as the UAW claims. To have them refuse simply tells me that its not a BIG 3 problem, but rather a UAW problem. I don''t buy american made autos for this very reason. Foreign autos are renowned for their qaulity. For those of you with no idea why, ONE of the reasons is because they don''t have to pay their workers an overinflated wage, enabling them to maintain a quality vehicle. As I ardently respect both sides, each has it''s own view and the ability to express these views is why our country is so great. Neither side is completely correct so why do we allow ouselves to be "hoodwinked" by those on the hill? LACK OF EDUCATION. LAZINESS. GULIBILITY. BIG BROTHER.

WAKE UP AMERICA!!!!!!

[wl7bzh]

Yea, Jessie Jr you were simply a victim-learn that tune from your dad?

[xlib]

combatvet-you are waaaay to civil for this crowd, but I appreciate your intelligient thoughtful post. These people are very intolerant of any view other than a far left one. So, welcome and keep trying.

[cattiej]

I meant to write, GOON SQUAD. Has anyone noticed all the guys in leather coats along with a few of the Illinois State Police surronding Gov. Rod?
If Jesse Jr is working with the Feds, why did he or his people come out publicly and say Jessee Jr. has been talking about Rod with the Feds????
Fire the whole lot of them. Impeachment committee, take Rod out of office today, our state needs to get on with the business of being solvent and in business. What a mess. This will take years to straighten out because so many of our elected politicans have to consult with their attorneys etc. They have to do there behind the scenes deals before telling us what they are going to do or what they are not going to do. The voters are going to remember this come election day.