Jesse Jackson Jr's Opponent: Campaign Or Resign

By Chuck Sudo in News on Sep 18, 2012 2:10PM

The latest session of Congress convened last week without Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D, IL-2), who is still on a medical leave to tend to bi-polar depression and gastrointestinal issues. That isn't stopping one of his opponents in the November election from asking that Jackson either campaign for his seat or resign.

Independent write-in candidate Rev. Anthony W. Williams told the Sun-Times Jackson is unfit for Congress and called him "an absentee congressman" who was out of touch with the issues facing IL-2 long before his medical leave. Jackson is in no danger of losing his seat in an election but his extended absence has left constituents with more questions than answers

Williams, of Dolton, is something of a serial candidate for Jackson's congressional seat, with consistent results. He told Sun-Times reporter Natasha Korecki people he's spoken with in the district believe Jackson isn't sick and is instead trying to avoid his legal troubles.

Prior to his health issues, Jackson was under investigation by the House Committee on Ethics 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. Robert Blagojevich, brother of imprisoned former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, was interviewed by the Ethics Committee in April about what he knew of Jackson's dealings with his brother in trying to secure appointment to the Senate seat vacated by Barack Obama's election as President.