* The Sun-Times quotes Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr., who appeared on WLS today..

“The prosecution has concluded, I assume, that what I have to say doesn’t contribute to their case,” Jackson said. “I assume they have no evidence or else they would have brought a charge.

“If I’m a conspirator — bring it on.”

Probably not a good move. The last time somebody in power said “Bring it on,” they did. And they still are.

* Jackson also said he had no idea that the people sitting at his table were plotting to contribute $1 million to Rod Blagojevich’s campaign fund to get Jackson appointed to the US Senate. Why? Because they were speaking Hindi…

“How about this? ‘Congressman meets with director of economic development and trade for the State of Illinois . . . met with him for 30 minutes in the presence of other people and discussed the third airport. Then another gentleman showed up and started having another conversation practically in Hindu, because I don’t speak Hindu . . . and I didn’t participate in any of that part of the conversation, nor do I even remember hearing it. And I have witnesses present.’”

One of the witnesses, Rajinder Bedi, testified at Blagojevich’s trial that Jackson was sitting with him and another fund-raiser, Raghuveer Nayak, when the $1 million was discussed. Bedi, a government witness, did not say he was speaking in Hindu. Bedi then testified he paid a visit later that same day to Rod Blagojevich’s brother, Robert, and passed along a message that the then-governor would receive campaign money if Jackson were appointed.

Click here to listen to the full interview.

*** UPDATE *** Dean Vallas is running Gery Chico’s mayoral bid…

The brother of former Chicago Public Schools CEO Paul Vallas said Friday he will run the mayoral campaign of Gery Chico, who has served Mayor Richard M. Daley in several high-profile posts.

Dean Vallas said Chico, 54, will begin circulating nominating petitions Saturday to get on the ballot for the Feb. 22 election to replace the retiring mayor.

Chico told the Chicago News Cooperative on Sunday that he would only enter the race if he could raise $4 million in campaign donations. Dean Vallas said donors already have pledged “at least half” that amount to Chico’s bid for mayor.

Vallas told Chicago Magazine this week that he was behind a “Democrats for Brady” organization. I wonder what Chico thinks about that.