E-mail updates
Follow on Twitter
Subscribe to RSS
Gary Cameron / Reuters
Former Chicago congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. enters the U.S. District Federal Courthouse in Washington on Wednesday.
Former Illinois Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. pleaded guilty in federal court Wednesday morning to misusing more than $750,000 in campaign cash on private expenses -- including a $43,000 Rolex, Blu-ray players, health clubs, lavish vacations, furs, and a slew of luxury goods.
Jackson, who resigned three months ago to reportedly get treatment for bipolar disorder and clinical depression, will face time behind bars when he is sentenced this summer.
"For years I lived off my campaign," Jackson said in court as he fought back tears. "I used money that should have been for campaign purposes for personal purposes."
Jackson accepted charges of conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud and false statements. The embattled Democratic lawmaker reportedly agreed to a negotiated plea recommending a sentence of between 46 and 57 months and a fine in the $10,000 to $100,000 range. But prosecutors reserve the right to argue for a harsher punishment, including the maximum sentence of five years in prison.
All parties agree that Jackson would not be eligible for probation when he is sentenced June 28.
"I'm not bound by the sentencing guidelines," Judge Robert Wilkins said. "The sentencing guidelines are advisory and they are something I am bound to consider."
Stay informed with the latest headlines; sign up for our newsletter
By way of explaining his decision to plead guilty, Jackson said, "I have no interest in wasting the taxpayers' time or their money."
"I'm guilty, your honor," a visibly emotional Jackson said.
Admitting that he took money received in political contributions, former Illinois Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr., pleaded guilty in federal court to misusing campaign cash for personal expenses. NBC's Pete Williams reports.
Jackson and his wife siphoned off $580,000 from the campaign war chest for a wide range of credit card transactions, including $60,857.04 at restaurants and lounges and $31,700.79 for airfare.
The bevvy of pricey goods Jackson allegedly bought with campaign funds also include a $4,600 fedora from Michael Jackson's collection, a $1,500 cashmere cape, and a pair of mounted elk heads from a Montana taxidermist priced at $8,000.
According to the court filing, other purchases included "high-end electronic items, collector's items, clothing, food and supplies for daily consumption, movie tickets, health club dues, personal travel and personal dining expenses."
As he exited the courtroom, Jackson, who left office last November after 17 years in his post, opened up to a reporter.
"Tell everybody back home I'm sorry I let 'em down, OK?" he reportedly said.
Jackson's attorney, Reid Weingarten, told the judge that he plans to make the case at this summer's sentencing hearing that his client's mental health conditions might be mitigating factors.
"That's not an excuse. That's just a fact," Weingarten said outside the Washington, D.C., courtroom, adding that he anticipates Jackson will rebound and have "another day," according to the Chicago Sun-Times.
Jackson's wife, Sandi Jackson, pleaded guilty three hours after her husband's hearing to a single charge for filing false tax returns and reporting less income than she accrued. The charge comes with a maximum prison sentence of three years.
But Sandi Jackson's lawyer, Tom Kirsch, said a negotiated plea recommends a more lenient punishment, according to NBC Chicago. Her case Wednesday afternoon was heard by the same judge who presided over her husband's hearing.
Sandi Jackson resigned in January from her post as Chicago's 7th Ward alderman.
The couple was joined in court by Jackson's father, civil rights icon Rev. Jesse Jackson; his brothers, Jonathan and Yusef; his sister, Santita; and Sandi sister, Tina.
Rev. Jackson on Monday said his son still struggles with mental illness and remains under "tight medical supervision."
"During this difficult and painful ordeal, our family has felt the impact of your prayers and calls," Rev. Jackson said. "So many ministers have reached out to us, and we thank you. The hurt in this valley is indescribable."
Jackson's guilty plea caps off a dramatic downfall. At the apex of his political career, Jackson was a leading figure in the Democratic Party establishment, serving as a national co-chairman of President Barack Obama's 2008 presidential campaign and as a surrogate for other high-profile politicians.
This story was originally published on Wed Feb 20, 2013 5:08 PM EST
Leave a Comment:
He stole $750 Grand. I agree with many posters the maximum should be mandatory for any politician caught with their hands in the cookie jar. Hundred grand fine? Where's the money? Where's the $4600 fedora? Looks like he's wearing an expensive cashmere coat w/leather collar - think he had the $1500 cape under it?
Jesse Sr. says his son's struggling with mental health issues? A fact he says... the fact is it's no excuse. We have people in prison for stealing a piece of pizza. He's a felon and should have to keep that moniker for the rest of his life - see how he feels when he can't vote, can't get housing, can't find work because he has a felony on his record. In our dreams... he's Jesse Jackson Jr. - above the rest of us. That's what's a fact.
Besides, didn't he say "I'm Sorry, really I am."
His entire defense started well over a year ago. Remember the disappearance/political detour last summer for medical treatment ? Then, without actively campaigning, he gets re-elected in NOV 2012. And with sentencing upcoming in JUNE, watch those mysterious "medical" conditions resurface just in time for a some prepurchased, hack judge to lean on that judicial crutch vis-a-vis "sentencing guidelines".......You'll see.......Like father, like son...A Professional Shakedown Artist...
The judge in this case is a personal friend of the original race hustler shakedown king. Would be a conflict of interest anywhere but Chicago.
Just another scum politican. "I'm sorry I let em down." Which translates into "I'm sorry I got caught." The POS should do at least 1 year for every year he has been stealing and his fine should be at least double the amount he stole. Hell, give him 15 years and a 5 million fine and it might be a good start.
Will he be losing the lifetime Congressional salary as part of this? I certainly doubt it. So, he will still continue to collect $170k + per year as his "retirement," which was apparently not enough to live on.
I am shocked at how long it took to get this story up there the writer musnt have been able to type with eyes all bloodshot and red from crying imagine that a democrat guilty of something still waiting though for more on Alec Baldwin we all know wiith his temper that he said those words just wanting to see how long it takes for that story to get some attention,Lord nows if it was a republican that the cries for beheading would already been out ther
How much time in jail would a person get if they stole $ 750,000.00 from a bank? Why does it matter "where" the money is stolen from or "how" the money was stolen ?
Illinois must be real proud.
Will there be a pause in the gun violence when everyone pauses to listen to the sentencing?
Until we get this kind of activity out of politics, our country is going to head south. Someone needs to look at Rohm Emanuel as well.
For all those that have been bashing rich republicans, you need to look at your own elitist in your party. Especially Harry Reid, who has managed to build a net worth of over $10 million at the expense of the tax payers on a Annual Salary of $175k a year for his 22 years he has been in the Senate.
We also learned here in Louisiana that Sen. Mary Landrieu has failed to pay taxes on her Washington DC home that cost $3.2 million. How do they do that on an senator's salary. SOMETHING STINKS!! And when it stinks, THROW THEM OUT!
I have no sympathy for Junior. He should share a cell with Blago. Grand theft and tax fraud. Pretty good for a minister's son. And his darling wife is no better. She and Blago's wife should hang out together while their men serve time.
Most Chicago Democrats belong in jail. The city is corrupt with drug violence and murder run by the Democrat Drug Gangs.
He needs the max sentence for jail time and also to repay the $750,000.
Correction, it should read: I'm sorry I got caught.
The CHICAGO politicians mantra....
HOPE I don't get caught...
here's your CHANGE fool... one scumbag politician for another scumbag politician.
Learned everything from that POS father of his. Surprised his father was able to actually keep his mouth shut and not come up with some nonsense blaming the Hymies. Apple does not fall from the tree!!!
Does anything good ever come out of Shi-town?
NO
Pizza and pirogis.
The Bears, Bulls, White Sox and Blackhawks. Champions all.
and Chicago style hotdogs. Beyond that it has nothing
Should get minumim 15 years and a 5 million fine. That would be a good start. Just another POS political scum.....
Bernie Madoff could run for office in Chicago as a Democrat and get elected.
The citizens of Chicago do not care if your a crook, as long as their checks arrive on the 1st and the 3rd.
Damn!
I think i have more respect for him now than ever before. Rare to hear a politician stand up and admit they did anything wrong. Wish him the best now.
navyvet, he got caught! Do you expect him to spend more of your stolen money for lawyers? Standing up and saying what everyone does, doesn't change the fact that he is a pos
The colon baby doesn't fall very far from the anus.
The only thing this oxygen thief is sorry for is getting caught. Typical Dem-A-Rat and yet the Dim-No-Whit sheep keep electing these Dem-A-Rats and then get herded with the majority of the Dim-No-Whit sheep into the pins of government hand-out dependence. Don't blame rich people for your shot-comings blame yourselves
Is he still entitled to his cushy federal pension? I'm sure his will still get her cushy pension from the state of Illinois. Gotta love Democrat corruption.
And where did this man learn to be a thief and cheat? At the feet of a great thief and cheat, that ever present welfare and race pimp Jesse Jackson. I won't use the term "Reverend" because that would offend God, and I have no reverence for the man (using the term man in its loosest definition).
I for one am shocked by this information. Just kidding... i expect nothing less from this POS. Chicago..Jesse Jackson, King Obama, Rahm. Enough said. Liberal sheep wont see it but anyone not wearing blinders will.
It always amazes me when people talk about someone's prison term as not harsh enough, it should be much longer, etc. Have you ever served a prison term? Do you have any idea what it is like to lose all your freedom and ability to stay in touch with family and friends for an extended period of time? To only get 300 minutes a month in phone calls to a very limited list of family for 5 years! That's a long time for a monetary crime! I am not excusing his crime...I'm just saying get real! Having a felony on your record, challenged with paying back the money and a 5 year prison sentence is NO slap on the wrist.
Boo friggen hoo Jobo. People have been put in jail for that long for much lesser crimes. Let him rot!
Hey, Blago didn't even steal any money or commit tax fraud, but he got put away for 12 years just for being a big azzhole and pissing off King Obama and Dictator Madigan.
Don't do the crime if you're not willing to do the time!
@Jobo - Yes, we all realize what it would be like to lose all those freedoms....that is why the majority of us don't rob banks....instead we go to work. Have you ever served a prison term that a lot of us call "work"? Let me guess...when Bernie Madoff was sentenced, you didn't feel that Wall Street "monetary" crime was stiff enough, did you? But then again...I can see your point...Wall Street "money" crimes should not the same as Chicago "money" crimes, should they?
Jr. is building his resume to become a rising star in the democrat party.
He's sorry now because he knows he'll get elected again after whatever punishment is dealt. It wouldn't surprise me if the fix was already in on his sentencing. He had not been convicted at the time he was re-elected, but there was certainly a very dark cloud hanging over him. He may be a crook, but those that voted for him are true idiots, and the whole affair should be exhibit A for term limits.
Also strange how the usual Dem mouthpieces are missing from this board, blaming the Republican's etc. Seeing the truth is like shining the light on roaches, they scatter into the darkness.
hey man!!!...what you got against roaches????.......the dems, libs, freeloaders, deadbeats etc are lower than roaches....
Much like Marion Barry, if he's not actually in jail he'll be reelected.