Robert Blagojevich Offers to Testify in House Ethics Probe of Jesse Jackson, Jr.

By Chuck Sudo in News on Oct 27, 2011 6:40PM

Robert Blagojevich - the one who was acquitted of corruption charges - has offered to testify in the resumed House Ethics Committee probe of Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr.

Blagojevich recently sent letters to all 10 members of the House Ethics Committee, indicating what he may know of "Senate Candidate Number Five's" interactions with him and former Gov. Rod Blagojevich could be of interest to their investigation.

“Based on what I know, I believe Jesse Jackson Jr. has a lot of unanswered questions that he needs to answer,” Robert Blagojevich told the Sun-Times. “There are a lot of unanswered questions he should be required to answer.”

Blagojevich testified in his own defense during his 2009 trial and testified Jackson staffers approached him on two separate occasions in October 2008 with offers of campaign cash for Rod Blagojevich in exchange for appointing Jackson to the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama's election as President.

Robert Blagojevich testified he turned down the offers each time.

During Rod Balgojevich's retrial, Jackson testified he never agreed to raise campaign funds, but revealed a previously unknown allegation Blagojevich would appoint Jackson's wife, 7th Ward Ald. Sandi Jackson, director of the Illinois Lottery in exchange for a $25,000 donation to Blagojevich's gubernatorial campaign. Jackson also testified he was approached by former Congressman Bill Lipinski about donating the $25,000 again.

After Blagojevich appointed a new Lottery Director, Jackson testified he was approached by the governor. “In classic Elvis Presley fashion, he said snapped his fingers and said, ‘You should have given me that $25,000,’ ’’ he said.