Jackson, Jr. an informant to Blago investigations
SPRINGFIELD, Illinois (CNN) - Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. - who was cited in a criminal complaint against Rod Blagojevich - has been an informant for at least a decade with the U.S. Attorney's office, and has informed on the embattled governor of Illinois, though not in the case currently under investigation, Jackson spokesman Kenneth Edmonds told CNN Tuesday.
In addition, two sources close to Jackson told CNN that, in 2002, Blagojevich - then running for governor of Illinois - solicited a $25,000 campaign donation from Jackson, which he did not get.
At the time, Jackson's wife, Sandi, was a candidate for the job of director of the state's Lottery Commission, a post she did not win, the sources said.
After Blagojevich took office, in early 2003, he told Jackson something to the effect of, "You see what $25,000 would have done?" the sources said.
In 2006, Jackson reported the incident, which he believed to have been an attempt at a shakedown, the sources said.
The report, the sources said, came three three years later because Jackson's memory was jogged by another case - that of developer Tony Rezko, whose fraud and corruption trial included testimony about $25,000 donations to Blagojevich.
Jackson did not endorse Blagojevich in his initial campaign and tried to stay on the sidelines during the governor's re-election bid, one of the sources said.
Blagojevich's office did not return calls seeking comment.
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J. Jackson Jr. has been swimming in the filth and muck of a Chicago sewer for a long time, and he is dirty. The public should reject him solely on the basis of his involvement in the fecal politics of Illinois. Along with Blagojevich, he needs to be thrown out of politics and imprisoned. Jackson is yesterday's trash and deserves to be in a landfill along with the waste of mankind.
Get a life people. Jesse Jackson is a good man and would make a good senator.You people sound like Sean Hannity who happens to be a blabbering idiot.
Does anybody smell garbage here?? What a crock !! Just how old was Jackson a decade ago. Is this a way to pump him up or what? It's not working, anything as bad as a thief and liar, a tattler comes close or is sure on that same list.
It's so difficult to not hold this young man's name against him UNFAIRLY due to his father's being such a notorious windbag.
But I will give him the benefit of the doubt based on his own record of being his own person.
I'd hate to be like the people who held Obama's middle name against him for no rational reason.
snitch
snitch
snitch
I guess we donnot need more snitcher in the capitol hill but true hardworker fankers dudes who can tell us what is in their mind like former senator the current VP Bidenwho always speak on what is on is mind instead of snitching.
Jessee Jr watch from your neighbourhood now since you reveal your snitching act.
figures...leave it to the democrats...what a bunch
An Informant? I'd be more inclined to believe this if it came from the DA's office. Hearing it from Jackson's press spokesman makes me think it's just self-serving crap. Let's face it, Jackson is in trouble here and grasping for straws.
After hearing about the fund raiser for Blago that Jackson's brother attended, I'm more inclined than ever to thnk the old adage applies here: the apple doesn't fall far from the tree (his corrupt father ,Jessie, in this instance).
Like Father, Like Son...
Will Bush now have to pardon both Obama and Jackson?
That is funny that his wife was considered for a high paying lotery post...they are all from the same mafia. Including President-Elect.
I have to admit... I never saw this one coming. I wonder if someone will send him one of those "Stop Snitchin'" videos.
The same people that think Jesse Jr. is lying about this are the same ones that still fall back on the "Obama has a fake birth certificate" memo too.
Too bad, Republicans. Not only was Jesse Jackson Jr. not involved with Blagojevich, but he was also a hero for turning him in.
In my previous blog comment, I said that I thought Jackson, Jr., was more involved that he was admitting. I still stand by that prediction.
Having grown up on the South Side of Chicago, I know how much of a contact sport politics is in Chicago. I remember when Daley #1 was mayor, and I saw how the game was played.
Jackson Jr's, father may be more involved in this than his son after all is researched and revealed.
Jackson, Sr is not to be trusted... Remember he Hymie comments and the nerve to council President Clinton on having a mistress when he himself one – and she was pregnant with his child.
This political family is just as bad as the Bushes... Send them all into retirement and grazing...
God Bless America and our new direction...
One more thing – if Obama is found to have a hand it this, we should treat him the same... We (the people) really need to stand up to corruption and political dishonesty – no matter who it is.
If he wasn't guilty he wouldn't be hiring an attorney. Case closed
90% of Chicago politics is corrupt .........we should consider ceding the city to Canada and cut our losses
Leave Jesse Jackson Jr. alone!!!!!!!!!
If you have a problem with informants, you must be a criminal.
if you have a problem with what he said, you've got no brain.
Why is everyone so hell bent on ruining Senator Jackson career. He said he did no wrong and it was instantiated by the investigators conducting the corrupting allegations of the Governor that the Senator did nothing unlawful. I know Sen. Jackson from college and I know he would never, never, let me say it again never participate in such unlawful acts. He believes in his job and the people that he represent in his state and nationwide. The people will be the loser if his career is ended by such lies and accusations.
.He is a good man with a great love for the people he serves.
And it toke Congressman Jackson this long to realize this?
Funny enough, when he first ran for congress in 1994, Barack Obama didn't endorsed and supported him but another democrat, State Senator Alice Palmer.
Snitching Jesse you should stick to "greenmail" like your father and shake down the auto industry.
Good luck getting re elected to anything with the snitch label now attached.
It all feels a little too conveniently self-serving. If he really were a informant, and therefore of value to this case, wouldn't it have been better to kept that fact a secret for a while longer?
Maybe he was an informant, and maybe he is completely clean, but something about his behavior and his reaction so far is a little odd.
The manure is flying thick and fast.
Time to update your CV, Jesse.
Your in for a bumpy ride!!
The article mentions only one incident of him informing. In CNN-land that immediately turns someone into an ongoing formant.
It's spit-up news on a lite news day... The headline is totally misleading. They do that... CNN... spit-up on themselves. That's when I reach for the CNN bib.
His wife was done out the Illnois lottery job, because he refused to give the Blajo 25K and he forgot about until something jogged his memory. I find that a little hard to believe
I think it was a good idea to get a defense attorney.
There may be something on the tapes that he may not want to hear.