Feb. 17, 2013
Jesse Jackson Jr. Possibly Faces Prison
Special to the Trice Edney News Wire from the Richmond Free Press
(TriceEdneyWire.com) - Former Chicago-area Congressman JesseJackson Jr. - the son of the veteran civil rights leader - has signed an agreement with the government pleading guilty to misuse of campaign funds. A judge will decide whether he should serve time in prison.The younger Jackson reportedly will plead guilty to a single felony count.The U.S. Justice Department in Washington and the U.S. Attorney’s Office in Chicago had no comment on the news reports.
Jackson, 47, resigned his congressional seat on Nov. 21, 2012, saying treatment for bipolar disorder, a condition marked by extreme mood swings, was incompatible with serving his constituents. Jackson confirmed at that time that he was under federal investigation and acknowledged “mistakes.”
According to earlier news reports, Jackson was investigated by the FBI over possible misuse of campaign money and his wife, Sandi, also was part of the probe. He disappeared from public view at the beginning of last summer and speculation swirled for weeks about his condition. Jackson eventually confirmed that he had undergone extensive treatment for mental illness at the Mayo Clinic. Jackson had served in Congress since1995 and was easily re-elected in November despite his absence from the district. His resignation came two weeks after the election. Sandi Jackson resigned from the Chicago City Council on Jan. 11, citing the need to help care for her husband.