Fund-Raiser: Jesse Jackson Jr. Wanted to Offer Contributions for Senate Seat

CHICAGO – A fund-raiser for Representative Jesse Jackson Jr. has told federal authorities that Mr. Jackson asked him to offer Rod R. Blagojevich, the former governor of Illinois, campaign contributions in exchange for appointing Mr. Jackson to the U.S. Senate, according to a report in the Chicago Sun-Times.

The fund-raiser, Raghuveer Nayak, told authorities that Mr. Jackson wanted Mr. Blagojevich to know that he would help him raise $6 million if Mr. Jackson was appointed to the senate seat, according to the report. Mr. Blagojevich, who had the power to fill the senate seat vacated by President Obama, was on trial this summer for trying to profit from the appointment, among other allegations.

The report also claims that Mr. Nayak paid for two airline trips for a “social acquaintance” of Mr. Jackson. Mr. Jackson did not appear to report the trips as a gift on financial disclosure forms, according to the Sun-Times.

The allegations could hurt Mr. Jackson, who may be considering a run for mayor of Chicago after Mayor Richard M. Daley announced earlier this month that he would not run again.
Mr. Jackson has denied any wrongdoing. (Source)

UPDATE, Jackson denies it:

Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-Ill.) on Tuesday strongly denied a report that he offered to have a prominent Illinois businessman raise millions of dollars for the reelection campaign of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich in return for being appointed to the Senate seat that had been held by Barack Obama.

The new report comes after recent public statements by Jackson that he had nothing to fear from an ongoing federal investigation. Blagojevich, a Democrat, was indicted in 2008 on 24 federal corruption charges, including allegations that he tried to “sell” the Senate seat that was vacated by Obama after he was elected president. A federal jury recently found Blagojevich guilty of only one charge, lying to federal investigators, although he faces a retrial in January.  

Jackson, however, refused to comment on allegations in the Chicago Sun-Times about his relationship with a Washington hostess, calling it “a private and personal matter between me and my wife that was handled some time ago.” Sandi Jackson is a Chicago alderman, and the couple has two children. 

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