* The Tribune moves the ball forward a little bit on the Congressman Jackson investigation story…
The look at Jackson’s finances is an “ongoing inquiry,” according to a federal source familiar with the probe. Another source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the investigation into campaign finances has been ongoing “for months” and that vendors to Jackson’s campaign are among those being questioned in the case.
On Tuesday, a woman who identified herself as a co-owner of a suburban office furniture company told the Tribune that federal authorities contacted the business within the past month or so to tell the operators they would be receiving a federal subpoena for records connected to a purchase of furniture by Jackson’s campaign committee.
Campaign finance records show that Jackson’s campaign committee purchased office furniture from the company for $8,000 in September 2010.
If that’s what he did, then he’s dumber than a box of rocks.
* Meanwhile, the head of the BGA made some curious remarks to WBBM…
BGA President Andy Shaw notes that Jackson’s constituents have not had a representative for four months.
“There is no procedure for dealing with this,” Shaw said. “Congress does not have … a protocol for somebody to step in and that’s the most troubling thing from a good government standpoint.”
Yes, there is no “vice president” provision for sitting congresscritters (listen to the audio at the above link). Never has been. Kind of a weird idea.
* And Gov. Pat Quinn struggled mightily to avoid being dragged into the controversy today. You really should listen to this raw audio of today’s presser…
From WLS Radio…
Governor Quinn admits it might be time for embattled Congressman Jesse Jackson Junior to speak publicly about what has been going on.
Shortly after the dedication of the new Belmont Road grade separation in west suburban Downers Grove Governor Quinn was pressed by WLS News about whether Congressman Jesse Jackson Junior should have come forward by now, and offered up an explanation about what has been going on to this constituents since he stopped working four months ago.
The governor responded by saying “It’s always helpful if you are in elected office, no matter what office, to provide as much information to your constituents and to the people as possible. I think that is the way government should be.”
- Responsa - Wednesday, Oct 17, 12 @ 2:55 pm:
Quinn’s losing his touch. There was no mention of either the Land of Lincoln OR the Mississippi River in his response to the JJJ question.
- J - Wednesday, Oct 17, 12 @ 3:07 pm:
$8k in misused campaign funds is a pretty small offense in light of what some people have done
If they’re going after Jackson over $8k , this is probably about him slipping away during the Senate Seat investigation.
There obviously is much more to this that we don’t know; however it’s starting to look like a mop-up effort for the 1 who got away during the Blago case.
- The Captain - Wednesday, Oct 17, 12 @ 3:11 pm:
I don’t get it, are you not allowed to buy office furniture to furnish a campaign office? Are all campaigns run out of empty rooms where volunteers work on the floor instead of sitting at a chair in front of a desk?
- Anon - amiss - Wednesday, Oct 17, 12 @ 3:15 pm:
–I don’t get it, are you not allowed to buy office furniture to furnish a campaign office? Are all campaigns run out of empty rooms where volunteers work on the floor instead of sitting at a chair in front of a desk?–
What I’m guessing is that the office furniture was not for his campaign office, but for his house. In other words, he was using campaign funds for personal purposes. It sounds to me like they are going after him for tax related issues.
- OneMan - Wednesday, Oct 17, 12 @ 3:24 pm:
Also keep in mind that is just one vendor, may be a whole bunch they are looking at.
You could call ‘whoopsies’ on furniture and say since you did campaign stuff from your home you thought it was ok to use the campaign stuff to furnish a home office… I suspect it is more than just one furniture purchase they are looking at.
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Oct 17, 12 @ 3:39 pm:
In other news, Jason Plummer (R-Kindygarten) reacted to BGA Chief Andy Shaw’s comments by indicating he would be willing to serve as “Vice Congressman” in the event he loses to Gen, William Enyart (D-Costello) ever though Plummer insists “I’m gonna whip his booty!”
Plummer went on to say, “He can be my wingman anytime. He just has to call me Iceman.”
Enyart was temporarily unable to comment.
- MrJM - Wednesday, Oct 17, 12 @ 4:01 pm:
A furniture related scandal?
How embarrassing.
Whatever happened to hookers and blow, people?
– MrJM
- Team Sleep - Wednesday, Oct 17, 12 @ 4:02 pm:
OneMan, you may be on to something. Heck yeah JJJ could argue that he does campaign work from home. Most elected officials make calls, send e-mails and approve mailers/LTEs/ads from their homes during downtime. But if JJJ and Sandy bought, say, a lovely chest of drawers or patio furniture, I’m guessing those aren’t being used for cold-calling potential DCCC or JJJ donors.
- Hmmm... - Wednesday, Oct 17, 12 @ 4:12 pm:
I wonder if any of the office furniture items in question were visible in the online photos of his D.C. house listing, which was taken off the market a day after the listing was made public.
- Huh? - Wednesday, Oct 17, 12 @ 4:22 pm:
“A furniture related scandal”
You forget that Rostenkowski was nabbed for postage stamps.
- BigDoggie - Wednesday, Oct 17, 12 @ 4:34 pm:
Will we ever get the medical scandal when they nab the doctor that is treating him for his “illness”?
- Reality 101 - Wednesday, Oct 17, 12 @ 4:44 pm:
Rich you need a like button. MrJm’s comment on hookers and blow was hilarious.
- 3rd Generation Chicago Native - Wednesday, Oct 17, 12 @ 4:51 pm:
Looks like they are going to start when they find something they can nab him on, furniture today, something bigger in days ahead. Enough to get him nervous. Hope he is on some good meds for his condition.
Also when you have bypass you are more suseptable to alcohol abuse, that was the big health news in Chicago yesterday. Best JJ watch his intake.
- Arthur Andersen - Wednesday, Oct 17, 12 @ 5:56 pm:
If he gets pinched based on posting pics of his house with the hot desk and chairs in the home office, he may have another “health crisis” at the hands of The Reverend.
- jerry 101 - Wednesday, Oct 17, 12 @ 6:11 pm:
devil’s in the details. It would be nice if the Tribune would tell us what was on the office furniture invoice. Was it 100 cheap chairs and tables? Or was it one pretty nice oak desk and one pretty nice ergonomic leather chair?
- Leave a Light on George - Wednesday, Oct 17, 12 @ 6:31 pm:
“$8k in misused campaign funds is a pretty small offense in light of what some people have done”
None of Blago’s schemes came to fruition and he got 14 years and deserved more IMHO. MIsusing $8K is not ok.
- Excessively Rabid - Wednesday, Oct 17, 12 @ 9:46 pm:
==If that’s what he did, then he’s dumber than a box of rocks. ==
And that would come as a surprise to whom?