Jackson Jr. Under New FBI Investigation, Maybe Hanging Out At D.C. Bars
By Samantha Abernethy in News on Oct 15, 2012 4:40PM
Sources have confirmed that the FBI and the U.S. Attorney's office are in the final stages of a new investigation of Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.'s finances. As if that wasn't enough scandal for the week, Gawker adds allegations that Jackson was spotted at a bar on two nights with two different women.
On Friday, the Sun-Times reported that the FBI was investigating Jackson's finances for "suspicious activity," but the WSJ has new details today on what was suspicious — Jackson allegedly misused campaign money to decorate his house. WSJ writes:
The probe of Mr. Jackson, a Democrat and the son of civil-rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson, is nearing completion, and attorneys for the lawmaker recently sought assurance from senior Justice Department officials to not seek an indictment before the November election, according to people familiar with the matter. Those people said the Justice Department officials refused to make such a promise.
Now this is separate from the investigation of Jackson's involvement in Gov. Rod Blagojevich's attempt to sell a Senate seat. That investigation continues, also, and Chicago Magazine notes Jackson disappeared "just days before" a former campaign fundraiser was arrested and indicted. That same person told investigators in 2010 that "Jackson directed him to offer millions in campaign cash to Governor Rod Blagojevich in exchange for appointing Jackson to Barack Obama’s old U.S. Senate seat."
One of Jackson's many scandals also involves women — he admitted to being unfaithful to his wife Ald. Sandi Jackson (7th) — lending weight to Gawker's claims Jackson was spotted hanging out in bars with women.
According to two independent sources, Jackson was spotted drinking at Bier Baron Tavern, a craft beer bar not far from Dupont Circle, on Tuesday and Wednesday nights last week. Each night, he was accompanied by a different woman. According to both sources, Jackson was drinking. "They were laughing and very focused on each other," one source said of Jackson's demeanor on Wednesday night. "Not sure when they left but I saw them there around 10:30 p.m. They didn't appear intoxicated or loud, but were definitely enjoying themselves."
Jackson's spokesman Frank Watkins told Gawker the congressman is still "under a doctor's care for bipolar disorder." Gawker writes:
Asked why Jackson was well enough to go out drinking two nights in a row but not to return to his work in the House of Representatives—which was in session last week—Watkins said, "You're asking me to comment on something I don't have any information about."
No, there's still no timetable for Jackson's return to Congress. I don't know why we bother asking anymore.
http://chicagoist.com/2012/10/13/feds_suspicious_activity_in_jesse_j.php