WHERE IS JESSE JACKSON, JR.?

Ok, Wassup with Jesse Jackson, Jr.?

The Democratic congressman from Illinois and the son of Rev. Jesse Jackson, Sr. hasn’t been seen in the halls of congress or anywhere else for that matter since June 10th — despite remaining on the November ballot for reelection.  For months, the Jackson clan remained tight-lipped on his whereabouts and condition despite pleas from his patient colleagues on Capitol Hill for an explanation.  By mid-summer the family finally spoke, saying the congressman was suffering from “exhaustion” but would certainly be back to work by Labor Day.  As Jackson’s constituents became restless, the family later amended their statement to say that he was being treated at the Mayo Clinic for a bipolar disorder and some gastrointestinal problems.  Well, Labor Day came and went, with the congressman still missing in action. With less than 3 weeks until the election, no one in Chicago and seen or heard hide nor hair from him. Puzzling?

Rod Blagojevich

Now there is word that Rep. Jackson is under federal investigation for possibly misusing campaign funds to redecorate his house. According to The Wall Street Journal, the U.S. attorney’s office and the FBI have been looking into the matter for a while and are actually “in the final stages” of their investigation.

The WSJ says this criminal matter is unrelated to a separate investigation regarding Jackson’s alleged financial involvement with disgraced former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, who was impeached and jailed for trying to sell Barack Obama’s former U.S. Senate seat. Jackson has denied any wrongdoing in the Blagjojevich investigation and has not yet spoken regarding the alleged misuse of campaign funds.  In fact, he hasn’t said anything at all since June 10th.

So, Wassup with Jessie Jackson, Jr.?  Is it possible that he is severely ill and legitimately recuperating for a healthy return to work?  Or is it possible that his mysterious illness and inexplicable silence are a ruse to hide out from impending federal charges?  Hmmm…

With so few facts available, I can only say that if Jackson is indeed suffering from either physical or mental ailments — real problems that must be attended to by real medical professionals — it would be heartless to wish him anything but a speedy recovery. But as ABC News points out, Jackson is facing an ethics probe, and just “days before he left Congress on medical leave, a former fundraiser for Jackson, Raghuveer Nayak, was arrested by the FBI on charges of paying hundreds of thousands of dollars in bribes to doctors.” Any disappearance shrouded in this much secrecy and circumlocution deserves a healthy dose of irritated skepticism.


Michael Moynihan
The Washington Post