Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr

Jesse Jackson, Jr. pled guilty today to fraud charges and offered no excuses for his actions. He said, "I used money I shouldn't have used for personal purposes."

Ex-Rep. Jackson pleads guilty to fraud charges

WASHINGTON — Former U.S. representative Jesse Jackson Jr. pleaded guilty Wednesday to using campaign money to buy more than $750,000 worth of luxury items, collectibles and clothes, marking the fall of a man once heralded as one of Illinois' most promising politicians.

Jackson, the namesake of civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson, entered his guilty plea in U.S. District Court and now faces up to five years in prison. He is expected to be sentenced in the coming weeks.

His wife, Sandi, a former Chicago alderman facing a separate felon charge for filing false tax returns over six years, will appear in court in Washington later Wednesday and is also expected to enter a guilty plea.

"For years I lived in my campaign," Jackson said before entering his plea. "I used money I shouldn't have used for personal purposes."

The Democratic congressman, who represented a district that included parts of Chicago's South Side and south suburbs, was first elected to office in 1995, replacing Democrat Mel Reynolds, who resigned after being convicted of statuary rape.

Jackson, 47, was re-elected by a wide margin in November despite a looming federal investigation and concerns about his health.

He sought treatment for bipolar disorder at the Mayo Clinic last year and had been on medical leave for several months when he stepped aside.

Jackson used campaign monies to buy a $43,350 gold-plated men's Rolex watch, $5,150 worth of fur capes and parkas and thousands more in memorabilia from martial arts master Bruce Lee, hats and guitars that once belonged to singer Michael Jackson -- along with memorabilia linked to slain civil rights leaders Martin Luther King Jr. and Malcolm X.

The cloud of scandal has hovered over Jackson for several years.

A Justice Department indictment of former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, who is now serving a 14-year federal prison sentence on charges related to trying sell the Senate seat that Barack Obama vacated when he was first elected president in 2008, noted that wiretaps of Blagojevich caught him speaking of a candidate for the seat that was willing to raise campaign money in exchange for the appointment. Federal authorities later identified Jackson as the candidate.

Jackson was never charged with wrongdoing, but the scandal, as well as revelations that he had an affair with a Washington hostess had unraveled a promising career that watchers of Illinois politics predicted would lead to him to running for mayor or the Senate.

In the days leading up to Wednesday's plea, the former congressman was in a fragile state.
"He is struggling with the highs and lows of his bipolar disorder," the elder Jackson said in a statement on Monday. "Please pray for him, Sandi and their children.

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/02/20/jackson-fraud-charges-pleads/1931581/

 

Bi-polar isn't a legal defense for a crime. Even for a white collar crime such as this one. He WILL get a slap on the wrist based on his mental health and rightly so. No story here.

 

Of course you would feel that way. After all he is a Democrat so I would expect you to feel no different.

 

I also believe he'll receive a light sentence. But, only because of his name and the fact that he was a high-profile democrat in a very blue state. It may not be a big story in Illinois since the residents there have become jaded to corruption, but it's a big story nevertheless.

 

I don't care what you expect. I have no love for either Jesse Jr or Jesse Sr. I don't like religion and politics mixed on either side of the aisle. A medical condition that explains the behavior is good enough for me. I think the truth here is that maybe the way you feel has more to do with the fact that he is a Democrat than it has to do with the way I feel because he is a Democrat. Ya think? Oh yeah!

 

The only thing that could make this a story in my opinion is if Jesse was faking the Bi-polar disorder in order to get away with a crime. I have heard nothing to that effect but I'm sure the conspiracy nuts are on it already. Until and if something like that comes to light...Meh!

 

You and I will have to agree to disagree that this is or isn't a big story. I think if you have a name like "Jesse Jackson", then it's a big story. If you are the son of a legendary Civil Rights activist, then it's a big story. If you were on the fast track to bigger and better things such as being a possible Senate candidate, then it's a big story. But, apparently not so in Illinois.

 

I think it has a lot more to do with the fact that you keep trying to "explain" his behavior with a medical condition you do not even know he has. And regardless, that does not in any way excuse his behavior nor his wife's behavior. To top that off, this incident clearly shows that the only religion he had was solely for his political gain. Somehow I doubt you will find such a religion listed in any religious book.

 

WRONG! He has been treated for Bi-polar. YOU can't prove he doesn't have it.

 

So are you telling me that you have access to his medical records? I heard his words also, but that is a far cry from proof.

 

http://articles.cnn.com/2012-08-13/..._1_bipolar-disorder-sandi-jackson-mayo-clinic

Done.

 

Cute, now look up the definition of proof.