Jesse Jackson Jr. Wants Details Of Medical Condition Sealed

By Chuck Sudo in News on Jun 4, 2013 4:50PM

Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., leaves U.S. District Court February 20, 2013 in Washington, DC. Jackson and his wife, Sandi Jackson, both pleaded guilty to federal charges after being accused of spending more than $750,000 in campaign funds to purchase luxury items, memorabilia and other goods. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)

Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. has asked for parts of his sentencing memorandum to be sealed because they contain information about both his medical condition and that of “one of his family members” that he doesn’t want revealed to the public.

The sentencing memorandums for Jackson and his wife, former Ald. Sandi Jackson, are due Friday. A motion filed Monday by Jackson’s attorneys indicates it will contain personal, sensitive details about his medical condition” and that of the unidentified family member. Jackson sought treatment for bipolar disorder and a gastrointestinal ailment at the Mayo Clinic last year, but that’s all anyone outside of Jackson’s inner circle knows, and it’s evident from the motion Jackson wants to keep it that way. We don't know who else in Jackson's family is under medical supervision or for what ailment.

Sun-Times Washington correspondent Lynn Sweet writes Jackson’s lawyers will cite his medical condition as a reason for a reduced prison term when he’s sentenced July 1. Prosecutors have reserved the right to being in an expert to examine Jackson if he uses his medical condition as cause for a shorter sentence. Jackson’s attorney Reid Weingarten said in April his client’s medical condition was well known and would not be used as a mitigating factor in his sentencing.

Jackson pleaded guilty in February to spending over $750,000 in campaign funds for personal use. Sandi Jackson pleaded guilty to a tax evasion charge and is also set to be sentenced July 1.