Blagojevich's Brother To Talk In DC About Senate Seat, Jackson, Jr.

By Chuck Sudo in News on Apr 13, 2012 2:20PM

Robert Blagojevich, the brother of former Gov. Rod Blagojevich, is heading to Washington, DC to be interviewed by the House Committee of Ethics.

The Ethics committee is investigating Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. over whether he violated House rules for using campaign funds to fly a mistress from the Beltway to Chicago. The Justice Department cleared Jackson of any wrongdoing, but asked the House to halt their investigation because Jackson was on the witness list for Rod Blagojevich's trial. The House resumed their probe last October.

Jackson, who was identified as "Senate Candidate Number Five" in the indictment against Rod Blagojevich, testified during the retrial Blagojevich offered to appoint Jackson's wife, 7th Ward Ald. Sandi Jackson, to hear the Illinois Lottery in exchange for a $25,000 campaign contribution.

Robert Blagojevich sent letters to all 10 members of the House Ethics committee offering to tell them all he knew about Jackson. He testified in his own defense during the first trial that 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.

One of the wiretap recordings that led to Rod Blagojevich's indictment and eventual conviction on corruption charges indicated a Jackson ally offered him $1.5 million in exchange for the Senate appointment. Jackson lobbied hard for the seat, but always maintained his actions were above board.