10:41 a.m. CST, December 2, 2011
WASHINGTON — The House Ethics Committee announced today it will
continue to investigate whether U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. or an
emissary directed or knew of efforts to raise campaign cash for then-
Gov. Rod Blagojevich in return for Jackson's appointment to the Senate
in 2008.
In making the announcement, the panel released findings from an
initial review by another office that found "probable cause" Jackson
either directed someone to offer to raise funds in exchange for the
seat or knew such an offer would likely be made. Jackson was never
named to the Senate.
Jackson, 46, a Chicago Democrat, has been under scrutiny after his
allies reportedly offered at least $1.5 million in campaign cash to
Blagojevich for the appointment.
The ethics panel also has been examining whether Jackson misused
federal dollars allocated for personnel and office expenses by
utilizing "staff resources" to mount a "public campaign" to secure the
appointment.
The Office of Congressional Ethics looked into the allegations in
2009. Unlike the House Ethics Committee, the office is not empowered
to discipline House lawmakers, nor can it ascertain guilt or
innocence.
But it did compile a report on its findings in August of 2009. Among
the key points:
-- "There is probable cause to believe that Representative Jackson
either (1) directed a third-party, most likely Mr. Raghuveer Nayak, to
offer to raise money for Governor Blagojevich in exchange for
appointing Representative Jackson to the Senate seat, or (2) had
knowledge that Nayak would likely make such an offer once
Representative Jackson authorized him to advocate on his behalf with
Governor Blagojevich.
-- "Because former Governor Blagojevich, Nayak and Mr. Rajinder Bedi
(another fundraiser) have declined to cooperate with the OCE
investigation, and because the OCE cannot compel their cooperation,
the OCE is unable to determine whether there is a substantial reason
believe these allegations."
Jackson has consistently denied any wrongdoing and renewed his denial
Friday. He said in a statement he will "continue to fully cooperate"
with the House Ethics Committee and expected to be "vindicated."
"I have said from the beginning that I publicly and transparently
sought to have the governor of Illinois appoint me to fulfill the
final two years of then-Senator Barack Obama's term in the U.S.
Senate," Jackson said in the statement. "I did nothing illegal,
unethical or inappropriate in that pursuit and I believe that is what
the Ethics Committee will conclude at the end of this process."
The congressman also said he was grateful that the committee has
decided to release documents in the case, saying that for the first
time in three years "my side of the story will be made public and for
that I am grateful."
One of the documents is a 17-page letter from two attorneys for
Jackson. The letter, dated Nov. 15, was sent to the Ethics Committee
chairman, Rep. Jo Bonner (R-Ala.) and to the committee's top Democrat.
It says in part: "Congressman Jackson respectfully submits that there
is no basis for OCE's conclusion that he may have violated House rules
or federal law and urges the Committee to close its investigation of
this matter."
Last May, at the second of two Blagojevich corruption trials, Jackson
contradicted prosecution witnesses and testified that he did not know
about or authorize anyone to offer the governor money for the Senate
seat.
Jackson, who represents the South Side and nearby suburbs, entered
Congress in 1995. His father is civil rights leader, the Rev. Jesse
Jackson. The representative's wife is Chicago Ald. Sandi Jackson.
Blagojevich will be sentenced Tuesday on 18 federal counts, including
attempted extortion for trying to sell or trade the Senate seat, which
became vacant when Barack Obama was elected to the White House.
The House Ethics Committee, which operates largely in secrecy, is
composed of 10 lawmakers: five Republicans and five Democrats.
---
Raghuveer Nayak MS, RPh, owner/operator of MRI centers and a clinical
laboratory, former owner of chain drug stores, and an architect of the
proposed "Cook County Prescription Assistance Coverage for the
Elderly" program, June 2005.
--
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