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Jesse Jackson Jr. Resigning From Congress
Two weeks after the election. You could have set your watch by it...[Chicago.CBSLocal] Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. ... Congressman-for-Life from Chicago. Reelected in 2012 without having shown his face in the halls of Congress in six months.... has resigned from Congress, citing health reasons and an intensifying federal investigation into the use of his campaign funds. Guess he got his retirement bundle. He notified staff, supporters and some politicians this afternoon. He was diagnosed with bipolar disorder this summer. His resignation letter has been sent to House Speaker John It is not pronounced 'Boner!'Boehner ... the occasionally weepy leader of House Republicans... "My health issues and treatment regimen have become incompatible with service in the House of Representatives," Jackson wrote. "Therefore, it is with great regret that I resign as a member of the United States House of Representatives, effective today, in order to focus on restoring my health." CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports the decision was made this week, jointly by the Jackson family, with the congressman's father, Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., presiding -- as with all major Jackson family decisions. No one would say where Congressman Jackson was on Wednesday, but given the family's longstanding traditions, it's likely he's in Chicago, with the family for the Thanksgiving holiday. For a man who wanted to be a U.S. Senator, considered running for mayor of Chicago, and was even thought of as possible Presidential material one day, it has been a sudden and unexpected end to Jackson's political career. House Democratic Leader Nancy San Fran NanPelosi Congresswoman-for-Life from the San Francisco Bay Area, born into a family of politicians. Formerly Speaker of the House, but it's not her fault they lost. Really. Noted for her heavily botoxed grimace... , after speaking with both the former Congressman and his father Wednesday afternoon, said she accepted the news with great sadness. Jackson's decision came following two weeks of mounting calls for him to come clean with voters, following revelations that his defense lawyer, former U.S. Attorney Dan Webb, was involved in plea bargaining with authorities who'd been investigating Jackson's alleged misuse of campaign funds. Jackson's resignation letter also included his first public acknowledgement of the federal probe. "During this journey, I have made my share of mistakes. I am aware of the ongoing federal investigation into my activities and I am doing my best to address the situation responsibly," he wrote. A statement from Jackson's lawyers, including Webb, said, "Mr. Jackson is cooperating with the investigation. We hope to negotiate a fair resolution of the matter but the process could take several months. During that time, we will have no further comment and urge you to give Mr. Jackson the privacy he needs to heal and handle these issues responsibly." Posted by: Fred 2012-11-22 |
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