CHICAGO (CBS) – A day after his office announced he
has taken a leave of absence due to “exhaustion,” it’s still unclear
when U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. will return to work.
CBS 2’s Jim Williams reports people around the congressman said he’s
facing a serious health challenge, and that’s been underscored by his
recent actions – or, rather, his inaction in Congress.
No one at Jackson’s office at 71st Street and Exchange Avenue would
talk on camera on Tuesday. On the phone, however, staffers said they
don’t know where Jackson is, and noted the Jackson family has asked for
privacy after announcing he’s been on medical leave since June 10 to
deal with exhaustion.
Jackson has been under enormous pressure in recent years: his name
has been linked to the U.S. Senate seat scandal that took down former
Gov. Rod Blagojevich, he’s facing a House Ethics Committee
investigation, he has been dealing with marital problems over his affair
with a restaurant hostess, and a key Jackson fundraiser was indicted
last week.
That fundraiser, Raghuveer Nayak, was a key figure in the Senate seat
scandal, and is also at the center of the Ethics Committee probe. Nayak
allegedly offered to raise up to $6 million in campaign cash for
Blagojevich to appoint Jackson to President Barack Obama’s old Senate
seat. Jackson has denied directing Nayak to offer campaign cash for the
seat, or any knowledge of such a deal. (more)
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