* Both Sneed and NBC5 say that former Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. has signed a plea deal with the feds…
Under the terms of the deal Jackson signed, he pleads guilty and his fate – as to jail time – would be in the hands of a federal judge, not yet assigned.
He would repay the government hundreds of thousands of dollars – for items like the $40,000 Rolex watch, travel expenses for a woman he described as a “social acquaintance” and furniture purchased for his home.
Converting campaign contributions for personal use is strictly prohibited by federal law. It opens Jackson up to “not more than 5 years” in prison.
And…
(T)hose with knowledge of the investigation believe the loose ends now deal with Jackson’s wife, former Alderman Sandi Jackson, and whether or not she is ultimately charged.
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- wordslinger - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 11:57 am:
It seems he’s off the hook for the Senate seat. But once you attract the feds attention, they keep going.
- OneMan - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 12:05 pm:
Well we have all seen this coming, still rather sad…
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 12:05 pm:
I think Sandi’s only chance is to ask for a “Vrodlyak Special” if it comes to doing time for … her.
- Kasich Walker, Jr. - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 12:06 pm:
Let bygones be bygones.
If he can get all IL pols to denounce Peotone Int’l plans, the state will get a lot more back than a few hundred thou and a rolex.
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 12:09 pm:
Apoligies, “Fast Eddie”
“Vrdolyak Special”
If I am going to use it, spell it Right!
- VanillaMan - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 12:14 pm:
Promises, promises
Sung by Naked Eyes, enhanced by VanillaMan
Never had a doubt
In the beginning
Never a doubt
Trusted too true
In the beginning
After Gus, Mel, now you
The Jackson family ruled like kings
Rolexes, booze business and silly things
You made us
Promises, promises
Knowing we’d believe
Promises, promises
You knew you’d never keep
Re-elections abound
A place for Sandy
Words that you said
In backrooms with Blago
“Our guy forever”
Still repeats in my head
You can’t finish what you start
Hiding at Mayo broke our heart
You made us
Promises, promises
But now you atone
The chance we’ll forgive
Is about as good as Peotone
- Hank - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 12:31 pm:
Perhaps he will get lucky and draw judge Cynthia Brim!
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 12:39 pm:
VMan - You talents have been missed, then when you come back, we realize how MUCH they really were missed…
- Will Caskey - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 12:51 pm:
Why is he repaying the government if the charge is using campaign contributions for personal use? He stole from his donors, not uncle Sam.
Curious.
- MrJM - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 12:56 pm:
Happier days: http://goo.gl/IuIzZ
– MrJM
- Mr.Big Trouble - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 1:07 pm:
As much as I have disliked both he and his father over the years, I feel a bit of sympathy for him in the household he was brought up in. It messed him up, but ultimately, we are all responsible for our own transgressions. You can beg for forgiveness, and receive it, but justice still demands a penalty, which he will get ,and which he deserves.
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 1:08 pm:
Will,
Punitive damages, maybe? Makes sense to me. Donors are supporters. Therefore, they 1) might not want the money back, 2) might have an idea as to how the funds were being spent (see some of the comments on other blogs saying “So what? Pols work hard for the money”), and 3) therefore an unwillingness to “participate” in the prosecution.
Exemplary damages paid to the Feds seems to be sending a message. Wrong is wrong–no matter what the donors may think, and possibly get in return to their benefit.
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 1:10 pm:
Furthermore, I have a sneakin’ suspicion that all of this is going to set a whole new precedent somehow.
- DuPage Dave - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 1:13 pm:
I guess this means the feds were waiting for George Ryan to clear space before sending Jackson to the slammer. Good riddance.
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 1:16 pm:
Another way to look at it, the crime isn’t against the donors, some of whom may be “complicit”. It’s against the People.
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 1:17 pm:
And hence, a criminal prosecution v. a tort action.
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 1:33 pm:
And just to clarify: I was using the term “punitive damages” loosely. In criminal cases, I believe payments are referred to as “fines,” but the intent is the same. It’s to set an example–in addition to any prison time that may be imposed.
- LincolnLounger - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 1:37 pm:
Oh, the machinations that must be going on to determine the assignment of a judge to that particular case.
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 1:45 pm:
=(T)hose with knowledge of the investigation believe the loose ends now deal with Jackson’s wife…=
I’m wondering whether that’s where the “plea” part of the bargain came in and/or whether there’s more to the deal.
- wordslinger - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 1:45 pm:
–Oh, the machinations that must be going on to determine the assignment of a judge to that particular case.–
Federal judge? Who’s doing the machinations? With whom?
I suspect if Trips had the pull to corrupt a federal judge or the Justice Department, he wouldn’t be where he’s at now.
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 1:49 pm:
Well said, word.
- Formerly Known As... - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 1:49 pm:
Wonder if JJJ’s been gossiping about the neighbors?
You don’t think - naaaahhh. No way. These guys never sing.
Oh, yeah. Silly me. I almost forgot:
=== Sneed hears former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is now singing with the voice of an anxious canary. Sneed also hears rumbles the feds are very interested in a powerful dem femme, who is not an alderman. Stay tuned. ===
http://www.suntimes.com/news/sneed/16707107-452/jesse-jr-spilling-all-he-knows-to-the-feds.html
Down the rabbit hole we go, friends.
Where it leads, only the Feds know.
- Will Caskey - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 1:51 pm:
That’s actually a fascinating idea. One would think that pillaging one’s campaign fund harms no one but oneself, leaving one with that many fewer hard dollars to win re-election.
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 1:52 pm:
To add on to word’s comment, I’d like to believe that judges overall have little tolerance for cases that deal with “misuse of campaign funds,” considering the ethics they need to follow and the restrictions they happily honor when it comes to their own campaigns (if they’re elected v. appointed).
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 1:59 pm:
=One would think that pillaging one’s campaign fund harms no one but oneself, leaving one with that many fewer hard dollars to win re-election.=
Not when there really are no limit. (”Oh what to do with all that money? No one will notice if just take a little here for this and that and… Nip. Tuck. Snip. Snap.)
- wordslinger - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 2:03 pm:
–One would think that pillaging one’s campaign fund harms no one but oneself, leaving one with that many fewer hard dollars to win re-election.–
Well, a $40,000 Rolex and a little strange can be such a comfort when one is harming himself by pillaging his campaign fund.
C’mon, man. When was the last time Trips was worried about re-election? Same goes for the great majority of reps.
A little less recklessness, and the federales never even bring the heat. But when they do, katie-bar-the-door…
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 2:05 pm:
Wooosh…score another point for word! (You are on a roll!)
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 2:16 pm:
Re: Sneed’s article–The “Boobies Rock” tid bit is also interesting. Charities, NFPs, “advocates” for the least fortunate and often most honored. Hmmm….
- Deep South - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 2:25 pm:
===I guess this means the feds were waiting for George Ryan to clear space before sending Jackson to the slammer. Good riddance.===
I think the law allows only so many Illinois politicians to be in jail at the same time.
- Boone Logan Square - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 2:29 pm:
Now my Friday afternoon earworm’s guaranteed to be the Handsome Family’s “Moving Furniture Around.”
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 2:46 pm:
Not Donna Summer’s “She Works For The Money,” Square?
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 2:49 pm:
V-Man, please tell me I might have perhaps “a-mused” and inspired just one more time as it would be so wonderful to hear (though you certainly have been doing well on your own and obviously need no help). :)
- Anonymous - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 2:53 pm:
Sorry…obviously “Not Donna Summer’s “She Works HARD For The Money,” Square?
(Must be that Moderate Leaning Right prude I can *sometimes* be. lol)
- Oswego Willy - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 3:01 pm:
I have been just reading and watching, - wordslinger - in the zone, and I got nothing to add.
- Arthur Andersen - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 3:51 pm:
Same here, Willy.
As a smart guy once wrote, “there is nothing like a wordslinger takedown.”
- walkinfool - Friday, Feb 8, 13 @ 4:01 pm:
This strange attitude, that both the campaign resources, and the public servant job, should be leveraged directly for personal gain, is too, too common. Some treated me as foolishly naive to be dismayed by it. Some explained it as not unlike exaggerating your deductions on an income tax filing…”everyone does it to some extent.”
Well, everyone doesn’t do it.
This attitude is an aberration, and should be loudly denounced by all public office holders. There is little gray here, IMHO.