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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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Like father like son ...... Loser!
Long mental illness? Ya, when pigs fly. He is a known drug user, alcoholic, and really, he is representing ILL. What do you expect. He got there, in the first place, just because of his name.
He is cut from the same cloth as all the other crooks that got to office on his name alone. Just like Obama he can't and didn't do one thing note worthy in his term as Ill. Representative. And in his second term, he has about 2 years and then well, you know the lame duck and all.
And the jockeying begins ... Sadly, like most politicians, it has all been about self-enrichment and enriching his friends at the expense of those he was elected to serve.
My guess is Jackson will spend no time in jail, but will get probation and a sizable fine. (Oh, and he will also retain his Congressional retirement.) Yep, the more things change, the more they stay the same.
Jackson son sought city tax subsidy last year for beer distributorship ...
www.suntimes.com/.../jackson-son-sought-city-tax-subsidy-las...
Jesse Jackson, Jr.: Sympathy for the devil
In-Depth
-Washington Times-Nov 24, 2012
Dems want to endorse candidate for Jackson's seat
San Francisco Chronicle-6 hours ago
Jesse Shakedown Jackson Gets Beer Distributorship for Son
In understanding of how Obama won the election..this guy won in a landslide. Speaks volumes about the libtard party.
Mental illness is nothing to joke about, no matter who suffers from it.
I hope that Jesse Jr gets the help that he needs to live a healthy life.
Well lets see the History of the USA. When Amerigo Vespucci arrived in the USA there were Red Indians in the USA. Later on in the USA there was the Civil War and after the civil war in the USA for Nearly 300 years the White Americans, the Black Americans and the Hispanics Worked Very Hard and Made the USA what it is today. Naturally the Fruits of their Hard Labour should go to the White Americans, Black Americans and the Hispanics And they should enjoy the Top Posts and Positions in the USA in Private and Public Companies and Government Companies and also in Politics. ie.the fruits of their labour must be shared by the White Americans, Black Americans and the Hispanics. The Indians from India were nowhere in the USA till the last 60 years. That is in 1950 onwards the Indians from India started migrating to the USA. So when Indians from India have not participated in the nation building of the USA why should the Indians from India be given top posts and Position Readymade? The Indians from India have not toiled to make the USA what it is today. On the contrary the Indians from India are dividing America. In the Past few years Indians from India UNITED and tried to divide the USA by writing books and false propaganda and Telling Lies. Indians from India tried to create differences between the White Americans and the Black Americans and Indians from India Ate the Moolah and took Top Positions. Though some Americans fell for this game the Majority of Americans saw through this game and Elected Presiden Obama. Even Now the Indians from India are trying to create differences between the White Americans and the Black Americans by writing books and False Propaganda and Telling Lies and trying to Eat the Moolah and take Top Positions. Though some Americans fell for this game a Majority of the Americans saw through this game and Re-elected President Obama. Thus Indians from India are trying to divide the Americans along Racial lines. Imagine a Protestant White Americans fighting with a Protestant Black Americans. OR a Catholic White Americans fighting with a Catholic Black Americans or a latinos. What would be the Result? America would be divided from all sides and Indians from India would Eat the Moolah and Take Top Positions in the USA. The Camaderie of the Americans can be seen during any National Tragedy or National Calamity when Americans from all Race, colour and creed stand Shoulder to Shoulder and help each other and become ONE in the True American Spirit. Why is there a difference between Red Americans and Blue Americans ? Please be United among White Americans, Black Americans and the Hispanics and don't fall for the Divisive Policies of the Indians from India who only want to takeover the Top positions in the USA and Eat the Moolah without doing any work and that too the Indians from India want everything Readymade for them to take over. GOD Bless the Americans. GOD BLESS THE USA.
Kevin Valentine Moraes
Mira Road (Thane)
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Typical politician. Can't admit he is corrupt because he is corrupt. Has to blame it on something.
This is long overdue. He should have resigned 2 years ago. Of course, he needed all of that time to build his "I did it necause I'm crazy" defense.
Jesse Jackson Jr is now trying to work out a plea agreement to keep from going to jail. But you have to believe if he is found guilty of any of the crimes he is alleged to have committed you know Obama will pardon him and he will have the best defense team money can buy. Plus the Congressional Black Caucus is already coming to his defense and watch for them play the race card again or some other nonsense about his so called illness
i agree that his resignation has something to do with a plea deal with the feds. i also think the so-called "mental illness" picture Jr is painting, is the foundation for an insanity defense down the line in case he needs it.
my response to all this is - "And the oscar goes to . . . . ."
This says something about what is wrong with our political system. A candidate should have to be qualified to run for a position in all ways and it is obvious that JR. wasn't for the last couple of years.
This also says something about our voting populace. The voters of his district would vote for anything black and democrat no matter how bad they were. Politics have been reduced to popularity contests and not races to determine who can do the best job. SAD.
We are polarized to the point of blindness.......
There is something more to this that he got caught with.
Well lets see he stole a lot of money cheated elections and everything else now he pleads he has bi polar issues and other mental issues. Only thing he hasnt blamed yet is GW Bush bit that will come later. Like father like son a sorry cheating racist SOB who should get life in prison for his crimes. Daddy and Uncle Sharptn taught him well he os a credit to the Demo's party
Feisty Redhead, I find is so amazing that this man has mental disorders (not) runs for re-election, and wins. Now he resigns his position. There is only one reason, this was done this way. With the re-election and the time he spent in office, he is now eligible for a full pension; which I believe he should be stripped of and still go to prison the the crap that he has done.
The apple didn't fall very far from the tree! He's on the run from fraud charges, that simple. He needs a "Church" to hide behind like his father has used to great financial advantage over the years. This is just more of the BS that is going on with elected officials nationwide. But watch--the vigorous procecution of this situation will all of a sudden fade away and Jackson will quietly take his "generous" pension, one that Obummer and his pack of Nazis will overlook when they try to screw with pensions, 401K's and the like. Wait and see!!
Al Chione
AGAIN, Feisty has the first post....GOTTA be on the payroll. Stating the obvious doesn't get you brownie points....
Having said that, it's about time JJ Jr. resigned, an embarrassment to his district and those he represents. OF COURSE he didn't do it until after the election in order to stack the deck for his replacement, but it would be really hard for a Republican to get elected out of his district anyway.
As a Conservative, REGARDLESS OF PARTY I want corruption ruthlessly tracked down and removed from our elected representatives. REGARDLESS OF IDEOLOGY, our government cannot ever work like it should with people with low values and character running it. And, REGARDLESS OF PARTY, they should all be fully prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. If you have a felony conviction, you ought not to be qualified to run for Congress. If you can't pass a drug test, you ought not be qualified. We want the best and brightest, and CLEANEST with conviction and values as our elected representatives, and right now we aren't getting them - I'd even be bold enough to say not in EITHER party.
Lastly, there are a lot of you that like to hide behind your keyboard and talk a lot of Smack. What happened to intelligent discourse? Been watching too much Honey Boo Boo I suspect. GROW UP, read, learn and be respectful in your disagreements, as most of you couldn't fight your way out of a wet paper bag if actually challenged. If you can't say it to someone's face, then don't say it.