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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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Has he been receiving a taxpayer paid paycheck all this time as well as his free health care?
Don't believe that mental issues is the reason... with the federal investigations on him going on there must be extremely valid charges that will be coming down... not telling the complete truth on why he is quitting is nothing more than a media lie... addicted to drugs is not a mental issue, it is a personal choice that he made... and this just did not happen, he has been on drugs for quite some time now...
It's about damn time he resigned! But what replaces him could be even worse---
yes have you heard one of the off breeds of George bush is about to run
poor jessie jackson jr. bipolar disorder, yeah right. you are going to pay the sins of your father buddy. you better keep you back against the wall, you are likely to become someone's boy toy.
Feisty Redhead Roselle, IL
What a MESS!
Jackson isn't resigning due to his "mental illness", he's resigning as part of a plea deal on corruption charges!
He will also be serving jail time, the length of which is yet to be determined.
Why he didn't drop out of the race still baffles me?
Look, I'm as lefty liberal as they come, but unlike those on the right, I call out MY own for their wrong doing!
Don't do the crime if you can't do the time...
You are so right Fisty... Why if a democrat had to step down every time due to mental illness there'd be none left... How Reid and Pelosi even find their way to work baffles me... Keep calling them out. God knows you'll be busy...
Lacking ethics and integrity isn't a mental illness.
Resigned? This shouldn't be a job you can resign from. Quit yes but you should be able to get benefits if you resign. What the hell is going on with our tax dollars? These people are elected for a term not a life time. When are we going to put a stop to government welfare?
...darn that 'truth, justice, and the american way!' causes problems ALL the time!
Just like Dad.
Another low-life democrat rat jumps off the ship! This cat crime's are pale in comparison to Pelosi"s insider trading scam, Maxine Waters multiple bribe-a-thons, Harry Reid's son fixing ballot boxes, and on and on. It's what we expect from the demoncon party, or maybe just the con.
"Pelosi's insider trading scam"???? Are you serious? hahahahahahahahahahaha
one less democrat to rob the state of Il. too bad they multiply like roaches especially in Chicago
Personally, I think that this entire bunch of congressional "Do Nothings", should follow Jackson out the door!
A sage once remarked: "If you want to test a persons character, give them power."
With congress and the senate in mind:
I have found that those of inherent good conscious and good character who find themselves in possession of power will instinctively use that power in the best interests and to the benefit of all, whomsoever -and this includes our Country.
On the other hand, a person of questionable or unstable character to start with, who find themselves in possession of power, will be predisposed to a further corruption and destabilizing of their character with a concomitant perversion of their power in order to serve their own best interests.
To quote the old saw: Absolute power corrupts absolutely. So somebody better get a handle on who they are Voting for before those so elected corrupt this Country -but absolutely!
Tom Nass,
5th Marine Division - WWII
look at Texas.its always been this way..if you take a bribe being Democrat you go to jail don't pass go...if your a Republican you get out of jail card ...all the time
Remember the homo from Texas ..who went on dancing with the stars ..not a day in jail..because Republican
y'all remember right the man with the tighty whites on.
Tom DeLay
House Majority Leader
In office
January 3, 2003 – September 28, 2005
Speaker
Dennis Hastert
Whip
Roy Blunt
Preceded by
Dick Armey
Succeeded by
Roy Blunt (Interim)
21st House Majority Whip
In office
January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by
David Bonior
Succeeded by
Roy Blunt
Secretary of House
Republican Conference
In office
1993–1995
Preceded by
Vin Weber
Succeeded by
Barbara Vucanovich
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives,
Texas's 22nd congressional district
In office
January 3, 1985 – June 9, 2006 (resigned)
Preceded by
Ron Paul
Succeeded by
Shelley Sekula-Gibbs
Member of the Texas House of Representatives,
21st District (Sugar Land)
In office
1979–1983
Preceded by
Joe A. Hubenak
Succeeded by
Mark Stiles
Member of the Texas
House of Representatives,
26th District (Sugar Land)
In office
1983–1985
Preceded by
Jack R. Hawkins
Succeeded by
Jim Tallas
Personal details
Born
(1947-04-08) April 8, 1947 (age 65)
Laredo, Texas
Political party
Republican
Spouse(s)
Christine Furrh DeLay
Residence
Sugar Land, Texas
Alma mater
University of Houston
Profession
Small business owner,
Pest control
Religion
Baptist
Thomas Dale "Tom" DeLay (/dəˈleɪ/; born April 8, 1947) is a former member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Texas's 22nd congressional district from 1984 until 2006. He was Republican Party (GOP) House Majority Leader from 2003 to 2005, when he resigned because of money laundering charges in connection with a campaign finance investigation. He was convicted in January 2011 and sentenced to three years in prison but is free on bail while appealing his conviction.
Tom DeLay began his career as a politician in 1978 when he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives. In 1985, he became a born-again Christian. In 1988, after just a few years in the U.S. House, Tom DeLay was appointed Deputy Minority Whip. In 1994 he helped Newt Gingrich effect the Republican Revolution, which gave the Republicans the victory in the 1994 midterm election and swept Democrats from power in both houses of Congress, putting Republicans in control of the House of Representatives for the first time in forty years. In 1995, he was elected House Majority Whip.
With the Republicans in control of both chambers in Congress, Tom DeLay, along with Gingrich and conservative activist Grover Norquist, helped start the K Street Project, an effort to advance Republican ideals.
Im talking about this homo folks...
Jackson & Jackson, its not a law firm, its a comedy duo...
Tom DeLay
House Majority Leader
In office
January 3, 2003 – September 28, 2005
Speaker
Dennis Hastert
Whip
Roy Blunt
Preceded by
Dick Armey
Succeeded by
Roy Blunt (Interim)
21st House Majority Whip
In office
January 3, 1995 – January 3, 2003
Preceded by
David Bonior
Succeeded by
Roy Blunt
Secretary of House
Republican Conference
In office
1993–1995
Preceded by
Vin Weber
Succeeded by
Barbara Vucanovich
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives,
Texas's 22nd congressional district
In office
January 3, 1985 – June 9, 2006 (resigned)
Preceded by
Ron Paul
Succeeded by
Shelley Sekula-Gibbs
Member of the Texas House of Representatives,
21st District (Sugar Land)
In office
1979–1983
Preceded by
Joe A. Hubenak
Succeeded by
Mark Stiles
Member of the Texas
House of Representatives,
26th District (Sugar Land)
In office
1983–1985
Preceded by
Jack R. Hawkins
Succeeded by
Jim Tallas
Personal details
Born
(1947-04-08) April 8, 1947 (age 65)
Laredo, Texas
Political party
Republican
Spouse(s)
Christine Furrh DeLay
Residence
Sugar Land, Texas
Alma mater
University of Houston
Profession
Small business owner,
Pest control
Religion
Baptist
Thomas Dale "Tom" DeLay (/dəˈleɪ/; born April 8, 1947) is a former member of the United States House of Representatives, representing Texas's 22nd congressional district from 1984 until 2006. He was Republican Party (GOP) House Majority Leader from 2003 to 2005, when he resigned because of money laundering charges in connection with a campaign finance investigation. He was convicted in January 2011 and sentenced to three years in prison but is free on bail while appealing his conviction.
Tom DeLay began his career as a politician in 1978 when he was elected to the Texas House of Representatives. In 1985, he became a born-again Christian. In 1988, after just a few years in the U.S. House, Tom DeLay was appointed Deputy Minority Whip. In 1994 he helped Newt Gingrich effect the Republican Revolution, which gave the Republicans the victory in the 1994 midterm election and swept Democrats from power in both houses of Congress, putting Republicans in control of the House of Representatives for the first time in forty years. In 1995, he was elected House Majority Whip.
With the Republicans in control of both chambers in Congress, Tom DeLay, along with Gingrich and conservative activist Grover Norquist, helped start the K Street Project, an effort to advance Republican ideals.
why is this man not in jail yet????????
look what year it is.. almost 2013
I am sorry to see this. I know very little about the Congressman. I've grown to really like his dad, over the years, however.
More in likely, The Almighty one has drawn up The Pardon Papers . No word from Daddy Yet ? When has Sharpton setup The MARCH ?
Pres Bill Clinton perjured himself before Congress, or do libs not remember that ? Of course it may be that the libs set the bar for morality and ethic so low that they don't expect much from their leaders...
This article is pathetic "journalism". Junior has been in plea negotiations with the feds, even though he hasn't been charged yet. When all is said and done, it is more than likely that his "resignation" is part of a fed deal. There is no way the Jackson family syndicate would resign their House seat of free will. His mental condition is a severe case of "getting caught".
Sign the petition to tell boehner and the republi-tards to Stop playing politics and pass the middle class tax cuts!!
Sign the petition here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/taxes/tax-cuts
Sign the petition to tell boehner and the republi-tards to Stop playing politics and pass the middle class tax cuts!!
Sign the petition here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/taxes/tax-cuts
what a piece of garbage. if this moron had a lick of decency, he would have resigned BEFORE the election and not after. now the state of IL is going to have to pay the cost to hold a special election! and, on top of that, he wants disability pay and a big pension too?! wow, hes got a big pair doesnt he? thats ok, it wont be long till he is rotting in prison with all the other corrupt IL politicians, and the people of IL will have the last laugh.
RE-3430894 Why don't you donate all of you income to the Federal Government. If you are so interested in everyone paying their share!
LOL....another democrat you voted in because of color and another corrupted democrat.
How true
Two things here... 1) The apple doesn't fall far from the tree and 2) Good riddance and enjoy your incarceration.