Jesse Jackson Jr. said to be "candidate #5"

**Ryan** · 12-10-08, 01:47 PM

ABC News.com -
Chicago Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., is the anonymous "Senate Candidate No. 5" whose emissaries Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich reportedly offered up to $1 million to name him to the U.S. Senate, federal law enforcement sources tell ABC News. According to the FBI affidavit in the case, Blagojevich "stated he might be able to cut a deal with Senate Candidate 5 that provided Rod Blagojevich" with something "tangible up front." Jackson said this morning he was contacted Tuesday by federal prosecutors in Chicago whom he said "asked me to come in and share with them my insights and thoughts about the selection process." Jackson said, "I don't know" when asked whether he was Candidate No. 5, but said he was told "I am not a target of this investigation." Jackson said he agreed to talk with federal investigators "as quickly as possible" after he consulted with a lawyer.

The congressman, a son of the famed civil rights leader, denied that anyone had been authorized to make payments or promises to the governor on his behalf. "It is impossible for someone on my behalf to have a conversation that would suggest any type of quid pro quo or any payments or offers," Jackson told ABC News. "An impossibility to an absolute certainty." "Senate Candidate No. 5" played a key role in the governor's efforts to obtain something of value in exchange for the Senate appointment, according to the FBI affidavit. According to the affidavit, Blagojevich threatened to appoint Senate Candidate No. 5 if President-elect Obama refused to help get his wife on "paid corporate boards right now." "If they feel like they can do this and not f-- give me anything then I'll f-- go [Senate Candidate 5]."

The FBI says that during an Oct. 31 conversation, Blagojevich described an approach from an associate of Senate Candidate 5: "We were approached 'pay to play.' That, you know, he'd raise me 500 grand. An emissary came. Then the other guy would raise a million, if I made him [Senate Candidate 5] a senator." On Thursday, the FBI says Blagojevich "was giving Senate Candidate 5 greater consideration for the Senate seat" because he might "get some [money] up front, maybe."

Blagojevich is back to business as usual working in his Chicago office today, which is his 52nd birthday. "The day-to-day operation doesn't change nor is it affected. There are still critical state issues that he wants to address - things like dealing with the current financial crisis, looking at ways to keep people in their homes and finding ways to create jobs - and will continue to do so as governor," said a spokesperson. Meanwhile, Obama is now calling for his resignation, according to transition team aides.

**BigDawg** · 12-10-08, 02:22 PM

I hear this little voice that is saying that I bet he agreed to help so he wouldnt be indicted and arrested too. I know it wouldnt surprise me one bit to learn that.

**Morris** · 12-10-08, 05:08 PM

Shocked, I tell ya! Shocked!

**Five-0** · 12-10-08, 05:15 PM

I can hear his dad now, "Boy, I taught you how to run a shakedown better than this! How did you mess this up?"

**Ryan** · 12-10-08, 05:31 PM

I just watched his press conference. It is kind of hard for me to believe anything spewing from his pie hole when he can't even read his notes...errr... I mean remember correctly. He started a sentence something like "I met with the governor for the first time in four years this past Monday" then says he wants to repeat himself to make sure we got it, then says "as I said I met with the governor for the first time in four years this past Tuesday." Wha? If he is so adamant about clearing his name, shouldn't he not get caught up in a lie doing so?

**BigDawg** · 12-10-08, 06:05 PM

He is neck deep in this, I bet you

**Terminator** · 12-10-08, 09:36 PM

Jackson 5!

**Jenna** · 12-10-08, 09:38 PM

Originally Posted by Terminator

Jackson 5!

**Terminator** · 12-10-08, 10:04 PM

Liberal MSNBC commentator Keith Olbermann is reporting tonight that it was confirmed that Jackson was candidate five.

**MacLean** · 12-10-08, 10:06 PM

There is no such thing as a clean politician from Illinois, let alone a clean black politician from Illinois.

The rot is pervasive.

**deputysykes** · 12-10-08, 10:20 PM

Originally Posted by maclean

There is no such thing as a clean politician from Illinois, let alone a clean black politician from Illinois.

The rot is pervasive.

Damn bro, hard on the Illini. Sad, but true.

Looks like his dad's Karma train is gonna smack him in the face.

**countybear** · 12-10-08, 10:25 PM

Lest we forget, Jackson, Jr. was Obama's campaign co-chairman. I find it very interesting that it would appear that Obama was allegedly supporting someone other than Jackson (Senate Candidate #1, assumed to be Valerie Jarrett) for the seat.

This is all smoke and mirrors, and it stinks to the high heavens.

Why Fitzgerald halted the investigation is really beyond me. Had he waited, seems to me that he very well could have blown the lid off of a lot more than just Blogo, Harris, and Jackson. Did he get spooked about how high this might have reached?

**Terminator** · 12-10-08, 10:28 PM

It's confirmed.

http://www.officerresource.com/forum...ad.php?t=32269

**jcsdscott** · 12-11-08, 12:18 AM

I really need to move, but there's got to be someone in this state who's not dirty. Oh wait, it's me! Maybe I should run for office?

**Xiphos** · 12-11-08, 05:07 AM

Nobody gets anywhere in the Chicago politics machine without being connected in all that corruption.

The race is on to throw everyone else under the bus and get the best deal with the feds. It will be interesting.

**countybear** · 12-11-08, 08:11 AM

Anyone notice how 'quiet' Daley has been about this? Uncharacteristically quiet...

**bayern** · 12-11-08, 10:41 AM

Originally Posted by countybear

Lest we forget, Jackson, Jr. was Obama's campaign co-chairman. I find it very interesting that it would appear that Obama was allegedly supporting someone other than Jackson (Senate Candidate #1, assumed to be Valerie Jarrett) for the seat.

This is all smoke and mirrors, and it stinks to the high heavens.

Why Fitzgerald halted the investigation is really beyond me. Had he waited, seems to me that he very well could have blown the lid off of a lot more than just Blogo, Harris, and Jackson. Did he get spooked about how high this might have reached?

He either was reigned in by the Justice Dept in fear of getting to close to the Massiah and the riots that would follow, or; George Seros made a big payoff to keep it from getting any higher.

**Retdetsgt** · 12-11-08, 12:11 PM

I've been predicting that after Obama gets in, some fringe journalist will uncover some real dirt on him and the Chicago machine. Screw Ayers, he was nothing, but Rezko and others will make him another Clinton. He'll be under investigation his whole term.

The main media knew about Whitewater, Bill's affairs, etc when he was running and protected him. They did the same for Obama. But with the Internet, that stuff can't be kept underwater forever.