Jesse Jackson Jr. Is Back In Washington, But Not Back To Work

By Samantha Abernethy in News on Sep 10, 2012 2:00PM

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Chicago) has been released from the Mayo Clinic, where he was receiving treatment for depression, but the congressman will not be returning to work just yet. Jackson left the clinic on Friday and returned to Washington, D.C., and there were reports that he would return to work today.

"He's hanging in there," Jackson's wife, Ald. Sandi Jackson (7th) told NBC Chicago by text message. "Gonna be home under his doctor's care until further notice. Won't be back to work until the doctors give the green light." His father, The Rev. Jesse Jackson said his son is still under medical supervision, and there is no timetable for him to return to work. The AP writes:

"I hope he does not move quickly, because he's so anxious to function; so anxious to work. He's programmed in that direction. He wants to serve. I think his people have been quite generous to him in terms of giving him time," Jackson told reporters. "But my concern is that of a father. I have no interest in the political timetable. It's his health timetable, and there is no date certain for that."

Jackson's office announced in late June that the congressman had taken a leave of absence for "exhaustion" on June 10. Then on July 6, it became clear Jackson, 47, would be out for a while because he needed "extended in-patient treatment." His office said Jackson's "medical condition is more serious than we thought," and the congressman had "grappled with certain physical and emotional ailments privately for a long period of time.” Jackson had been seeking treatment at a facility in Arizona.

The Mayo Clinic announced July 28 that the congressman had checked into the facility "for extensive inpatient evaluation for depression and gastrointestinal issues."