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Subscribe to RSSJackson, who has been hospitalized on and off since June for treatment of bipolar disorder, gave up his seat in Congress after 17 years. NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reports.
Updated 2:59 p.m. ET — Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., resigned from Congress on Wednesday following a prolonged treatment for mental health issues.
An aide to House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, told NBC News that the speaker's office received a letter from the Illinois congressman this afternoon.
"During this journey, I have made my share of mistakes," Jackson wrote in his letter. "I am aware of the ongoing federal investigation into my activities, and I am doing my best to address the situation responsibly, cooperate with the investigators, and accept responsibility for my mistakes, for they are my mistakes and mine alone. None of us is immune from our share of shortcomings or human frailties and I pray that I will be remembered for what I did right."
Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.'s resignation comes just two weeks after he won a ninth term as a representative of Illinois without campaigning and after being out of the public eye for months due to a personal struggle with mental illness. NBC's Kelly O'Donnell reports.
The son of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the civil rights leader, Jackson, Jr. had sought treatment for bipolar depression at the Mayo Clinic for much of the past summer and fall. His last vote in Congress was on June 10, and his mysterious disappearance from official duties prompted speculation about the reason for the Democrat's prolonged absence.
Jackson was first elected to Congress in 1995 in a Chicago-area district's special election, and had won re-election to eight full terms since then. He won re-election just 15 days ago by a 40-point margin in the heavily Democratic district. Jackson also survived a Democratic primary challenge this summer from former Rep. Debbie Halvorson. President Barack Obama and Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel (D) each endorsed Jackson in the primary.
Amid his battles against mental illness, Jackson has also been embroiled in ethics allegations, which prompted the congressman to reportedly hire an attorney in recent weeks.
In particular, Jackson's efforts to convince then-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich to appoint him as Barack Obama's successor in the Senate have drawn scrutiny. Blagojevich, a Democrat, was subsequently convicted of having sought favors and donations in exchange for the appointment.
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Many people all the sudden find themselves mentally ill right before they know they are going to the can
Blago all the sudden declared he was a drunk and needed treatment. It did affect his sentencing a bit.
Can't wait until the main story of Jesse comes out by the US Attorney's Office
LIKE FATHER LIKE SON....Its about time!. It was either resign or avoid jail time. good think i didnt vote for him
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The gentleman did not make arrangements for the young staff, other than to assure their dismissal--on the eve of Thanksgiving--with no cause or notice. Some folks would regard this as less than praiseworthy.
Well, after all it is Bush's fault you know!
Happy Thanksgiving - We hope half of the Nation is thankful for the other half giving...
The half of people(I cant say Americans because of millions of illegals) profiting by our authoritarian governments confiscation of wealth and redistribution actually hate Americans who have been and are self sufficient! Their commie indoctrination by the likes of obammi tells them they are entitled to live off "stolen wealth" , these scum are nothing but thieves, no matter what their color!
What a dip-$hit....now how much is this gonna cost the taxpayer for ANOTHER election right on the heels of the first election?
Jr. is as bad as his daddy. They're both hypocrites. He knows he was originally hospitalized for drug and alcohol addiction but is using his mental illness to garner sympathy. Good ridance, Jr.
What a D-bag. But who could be stupider than the voters in Illinois who elected and re-elected him?
Bi-Polar, my Aunt Gerddies pet Airdale! He suffres from BI (actually 'multi' is more accurate)- ADDICTION DISORDER! HE'S ADDICTED TO ANYTHING HE CAN SHOVE UP HIS NOSE OR INJECT IN HIS VEINS! His myopic, "useful idiot" constituents RE-Elected him! Same as did that other junkie Marion Barry's , in DC! Illinios isn't far enough in debt, now this Idiot will cost the State even more money it doesn't have!
So much babble and stupidity by so many posters. Yes, he is a Democrat and yes finally he is gone and should be. But there are plenty on both sides that should be gone.....get it....both sides. Most politicians could care less about this country, only their own best interests. Until everyone gets off their high horse and quit following their party like blind sheep, this country will continue to go down the drain. Start using your brains instead of sitting on them and vote for the best person, irregardless of party. Then and only then will this country move forward. Voters have the power to move this country forward, and the voters are responsible for the mess this country is in now.
They are just out to get Jesse's son because he is black! Racist lawmakers!
Look in a mirror and you will see the real racist !!
Anyone with a brain realizes that Jackson is a criminal. Jackson is just faking an illness that he thinks may get him out of any Jail time. On the other hand, if every congressman or senator were really investigated, they also woulld be charged with some kind of crime. All Polticians are crooked, there is no doubt about that. A Person just has to vote for the Politician or Party that they think will be the best for themselves personally. If you are honest, you cannot be a Politician.
The republicans are looking for the reason they've lost to president obama ??? let me help you guys , first thing , drop MORONI , and turn back to JESUS CHRIST !!! drop the GREED , drop the LYING , drop the HIPOCRICY , drop the SELFISHNESS , drop the SELF RIGHTEOUSNESS , drop the WELFARE ENTITLEMENT FOR THE RICH , drop the ARROGANCE , drop the OFFSHORE TAX DODGING , drop the OBSTUCTIONIST. IN OTHER WORDS , '' DROP THE TEA PARTY '' , AND IT WILL GIVE YA'LL A FIGHTING CHANCE !!!!!!!
You are the perfect example of what is wrong with this country. I am always right and everybody else is always wrong.
Tis yet another sad day for politics and politicians; sadder still however, is just how many Republicans seem to be rejoicing over the fall of another human being! May he find peace in this time of turmoil in his personal life.
Right on...
He never should have been elected in the first place. Unlike his father, this piece of work is trash. Corrupt to the core and not worth the ink this story was printed with.
So strange to me how any Republican can call another person 'corrupt' after Mitt Romney took center stage in the debates and LIED through his teeth the entire time! Now, the Republicans have the audacity to whine about losing the election...so strange. Pot calling kettle, black??? So it would appear!
Right on...
ok, I can respect a man who is willing to take responsibility. I can pray for someone who needs physical or mental help. I can admit that we are all frial and full of weakness. So God speed and I hope that your legal problem result in the truth being revealed.
Thank God for little miracles, now if the other 534 would do the same America may have a chance again..
Refund on his last terms salary for 'NO-SHOW'! Cancel his health insurance for 'CONTRACTURAL FAILER'!! Forget about any 'RETIREMENT'!!! Book his sorry DNA-INDUCED butt in the slammer as an EXAMPLE to the rest of 'DA 'BRO'S wantin' 'der CHECKS!!!!
It is quite obvious that you are a racist pig, bro! You want to talk about contractual failure? How about the shear number of Republicans who signed a document submitted by 'Roll Over Grover Nerdquist' to NEVER raise taxes on the wealthy? How about an obstructionist, 'far to the right' leaning House that purposely stifled every move the POTUS tried to make to get this nation running again in the right direction. The interest/welfare of the people is suppose to be an elected officials highest moral obligation; not that of the wealthy solely. If anybody failed to earn their paychecks and benefits; clearly, it is the GOP and on Nov 6th 2012, the people let them know as much!
salus populi suprema lex esto
Right on...
It was a Hereditary condition that forced his resignation. Jesse Jackson Jr. A chip off the Deluded, Adulterous Father. Good Riiddance. Now if we could only get rid of the Root of the problem, called Sr.
Yeah...lets talk about adultery, shall we? But first, lets define its meaning...'Fig Newton Gangrene':
Has there EVER been a more squeaky clean, morally speaking, gov't official than that fat pig who 'served' as Speaker of the House; condemning Bill Clinton for what he was equally guilty of while he dared to prosecute and persecute the former President? If you live in a glass, fake-ass, cardboard, house, as do ALL Republicans; one should have ALL stones removed from his own property before casting one at another.
Right on...
how in the hell did this guy get re-elected??..it must be the same crew of morons that voted for obama......
The SAME WAY dizzy-ass Michele Bachmann keeps being re-elected! Must be the same crew of morons who elected lost cause, and out-going loser, Allen West!
Right on...
Sounds like Junior got a little to greedy. There is a pecking order for government corruption and you better not try to overstep your bounds or you will end up like Junior. Know your place and anyone in government can be rich.
ust another affirmative action democrat politician......good riddance...
How in the name of all that is sane can any person be elected through affirmative action; you imbecile? Cry baby-ass, white people; blaming everything that goes wrong in this entire nation on affirmative action when few of them call even spell it without looking in the dictionary first! "Ooooh yea-ah, glory be O' Lawd; niggars will never know what it is like to be white and victimized in a land where the gub'ment favors the poor jus coz the poor has so much more to offer!"
I have an idea; lets blame affirmative action for global warming!!! Oops, never mind, almost forgot; the omnipotent Republican Party doesn't believe in global warming.
Well...hello there hurricane Sandy! Pray tell; where did you blow in from???
(raised eyebrows and look of surprise)!
The scum and the intellectually numb; I truly wonder, where do they ALL come from!
Right on...
A public official has no defense when he/she takes a salary and fails to represent. Regardless of personal sympathy, Illinois should sue ex-Representative Jackson for six months salary and a new election, $6,000,000.00
If that's the case, the entire Republican Party should be sued for misrepresentation, shouldn't they??? I mean; what did any of them do to earn their salaries and bennies over the past four years other than try their damndest to repeal ObamaCare, although it was upheld by the Supreme Court, obstruct and block every bill that hit the floor if it was supported or submitted by the Democrats, and refuse to raise taxes on the uber wealthy via the document THEY signed, handed to them by 'Roll-over Grover Nerdquist' who is not even an elected official, by the way?
Oh! One other thing they did work on with ALL due diligence, was to try set women's rights back 200 years! Didn't pass a single law that helped anybody other than their rich buddies!!! Sue numb-nutz Alien West and Dizzy-shele Backward, (look over here and look over there; I see communist every goddamn where!) for even running for public office in the first place...DAMN!
The failings of one man vs. the failings of an entire Party...yup; that's seems fair to me; if you're an ass-hole Republican!
Right on...
what a sick racist idiot you are !!
Wow, wasn't he the one that got re-elected even though he was under criminal investigation? How in the world did he ever get one vote much less win...
@Job 1... Loved the post... Youre the highest ranking idiot on the board.. You voted for him didn't ya? lol. I did notice in your list of clowns you only listed republicans.. So tell me... do you have another list of demcratic clowns to share with us or would that be too taxing on your supreme intelligence.. Maybe Joe Biden could get you the number of the website where you keep your list's... I copied and pasted your post again so you could read it over and over again and bathe in your own intelligence. What a dork... lol.
Job1
Now if only some other clowns like John Boner, Paul Ryan, ,Eric Cantor,Kevin McCarthy and Michele Bachmann would follow him out the door, the House would start to gain the favor of the America People, and some actual work would get done.
He learned corruption at the feet of the master..his father
Wonder where Mitt Romney's LYING ASS learned it from? Perhaps at the feet of good-ole Georgie Boy?
Right on...