Jesse Jackson, Jr. On Medical Leave Of Absence From Congress
By Chuck Sudo in News on Jun 26, 2012 2:50PM
Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr.'s office revealed Monday the congressman has been on a medical leave of absence from Congress for the past two weeks.
The reason given for the leave of absence was "exhaustion," that go-to for celebrities and starlets whenever they go to rehab. But it is real and Jackson has had plenty of reasons to be stressed recently. The House Ethics Committee is investigating Jackson regarding whether he violated House rules when he used campaign funds to fly a mistress to campaign functions. Which went over about as well as could be expected when his wife, 7th Ward Ald. Sandi Jackson, found out. Then there's Robert Blagojevich, brother of our imprisoned former governor, talking to the House Ethics Committee about what he knew of Jackson's discussions to be appointed to the Senate seat vacated when Barack Obama was elected President.
Then there's the story of Raghuveer Nayak, a former donor to Jackson's and Rod Blagojevich's campaigns who was charged last week with bribing doctors to send patients to his surgery centers. Nayak told Sun-Times columnist Mark Brown he was "always welcome in the Jackson home." And there's Jackson's quixotian quest to bring a Peotone airport to reality.
A source told the Sun-Times Jackson reached the breaking point with a tough re-election campaign and an ongoing fight to save his marriage. Jackson spokesman Frank Watkins said the congressman's office waited two weeks to make the announcement out of deference to the family and wouldn't disclose where he's seeking treatment. This isn't the first time Jackson has been treated for exhaustion. the first time he stayed at the California home supermarket czar Ron Burkle.
ABC 7's Chuck Goudie tried to make some hay with the announcement by noting the congressman's twitter feed was updated 18 times since June 10, and twice Monday. Unless Goudie knows something we don't, it's possible the congressman's Twitter feed is maintained in house by someone. Regardless, tweeting is not a sign of exhaustion.