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Was Jesse Jackson Jr. Talked Out of Giving Up His Seat?

A legal advisor to Jackson may have told the congressman not to resign before the election, according to CBS 2 reports.

A fear of losing federal health insurance may have been the determining factor in Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr.'s decision to remain in office, according to a CBS 2 report.

Jackson had been considering resigning from the position before the election, but he and his wife were talked out of the idea by a trusted legal adviser, CBS 2 Chief Correspondent Jay Levine reports. The prospect of losing the health insurance "just when he needed it most" was part of the reason Jackson reconsidered, the legal adviser told Levine.

Read more about what Levine learned from Jackson's adviser. 

Jackson is currently the subject of a criminal investigation regarding his campaign spending and a congressional ethics investigation.

Sun-Times columnist Michael Sneed reported yesterday that Jackson has been in talks with federal investigators to negotiate a plea deal. Should Jackson plead guilty to a felony, he would have to give up his seat, in which case there would be a special election.

Cook County Clerk David Orr told CBS 2 the election schedule leaves ample opportunity for a special race if there needs to be one. 

“The feds are smart," Orr told Levine. "They understand taxpayers, they understand the issues. So all I’m saying is I want the people to understand that we do have existing dates for February and April, and if at all possible – if this happens, which we don’t know – it would be nice that we could save the taxpayers money.”

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Genvieve LaChappele November 9, 2012 at 02:01 am
A few weeks ago I posted a comment saying Jr would be re-elected then step down so he could be replaced with another crony. Who will that crony be? Anyone wish to guess? This State is so corrupt. So is our whole system. All the way to the top, Yep all the way! Remember the transparency we were promised?
Joe Lake November 9, 2012 at 02:02 am
JJJr is done, stick a fork in him. Joe Lake, Chicago
NotBuyingIt November 9, 2012 at 02:22 am
Hear now this, O foolish Marcus, and without understanding; which have eyes, and see not; which have ears, and hear not: You will never be elected to public office as you clearly do NOT have what it takes. Go thy way Marcus, eat thy bread with joy, and drink thy wine with a merry heart; for the voters will never accepteth thy works.
Marcus Lewis November 9, 2012 at 02:24 am
All lies! Lies and more lies! Just one lie after another lie!
The Jackson's truth is more lies. When they open their mouth out comes another lie. Lying liars that have no problem with whooping out another whooper. If they are talking, uh oh out comes another lie! The devil is a liar and the Jacksons are liars What's the difference....NONE!
Joe Lake November 9, 2012 at 02:29 am
And JJJr will never serve out his term. The grey bars await. JJJr-stick a fork in him, he's done. Joe Lake, Chicago
jim gott November 9, 2012 at 02:35 am
I think he JJJ should pay for the reelection. He only acted in his best interest. Why do we continue to elect people who have lost sight of right and wrong. The system is broken and we continue to allow the selfish actions of men and women to waste our money and time. There should be no plea deal just a plan to deal with the crooks and the crimes.
James Taylor November 9, 2012 at 02:51 am
This is such a mess for the people of Illinois. There should be a run off between Woodworth and Lewis if in fact Jackson is indicted. Why spend the money to do the whole thing over again? It is certainly unfair to both men and to the tax payers of the District. Both are actually qualified to be in congress!
Ryan Fitzpatrick (Editor) November 9, 2012 at 03:55 am
Nick Johnson—your comment was deleted because it was incredibly racist.
babyboomer November 9, 2012 at 08:10 am
DUH!! Of course other people are telling him what to do!! He has lost his mind. I hope Jackson gets convicted. I think that this whole insanity thing is a crock!!
Tim Pursell November 9, 2012 at 09:39 am
My disgust for the lack of integrity of the man and the political hacks that encouraged him to run in this election can only be matched by the disgust I have for the 71% of the voters that returned him to office.
Wake up people.
BlackHawks Fan November 9, 2012 at 10:48 am
Who could fill Jackson’s seat? There now has to be a special election and here are some of the current replacements.
http://www.suntimes.com/news/brown/16260591-452/who-could-fill-jacksons-seat.html
babyboomer November 9, 2012 at 01:43 pm
E 1 is acting so incredulious that Jackson is now willing to plead with the Feds. We had our chance to vote him out, and because the Black community wanted him in, well, now you have to live with the consequences.
babyboomer November 9, 2012 at 01:45 pm
And why would Marcus Lewis be in the mix? He was never a viable candidate, we kn ow nothing about him.
Arthur W. Wiggins Jr. November 9, 2012 at 02:51 pm
Tim,
Dont you think it is funny(sick), that by definition, we have to use the word "run" for what he did? With the exception of one robo call....there was no campaign. From the news reports, the absolute minimum was done to retain his health insurance. Leech
Joe Lake November 9, 2012 at 04:42 pm
So how did you like the way JJJr campaigned. The election is over and JJR won-- and and is on his way to go to Club Fed. Joe Lake, Chicago
Joe Lake November 9, 2012 at 05:02 pm
And I didn't say you did. You were talking about the way Marcus Lewis campaigned and I asked what you thought about the way JJJr campaigned. You replied that you didn't vote for JJJr. Joe Lake, Chicago
Jordon Mathew November 9, 2012 at 06:54 pm
That nice
I am very happy with your blog please visit us at :http://www.foreclosureattacker.com/ and know the solution of how to save your house..,
Joe Lake November 9, 2012 at 08:35 pm
It's also a felony for JJJr to use federal campaign funds for personal use, perhaps multiple felonies. Joe Lake, Chicago
Denice November 9, 2012 at 08:57 pm
For all of you that wasted your vote on JJJ----shame on you. Surely you watch the news and KNEW he was involved in some immoral and unethical acts. How can you in clear conscious vote for a person known to have had numerous extra marital affairs, has been under investigation for trying to buy a senate seat, and has been MIA since June but is still collecting a paycheck from taxpayers? I'm not even going to mention the "health" issues he is supposedly dealing with. Does the color of his skin give him a free pass to do whatever he wants or do you believe in him with the same childish innocence that you believed in the tooth fairy? My hope is that maybe you were foolish enough to vote for him simply because he was the Democratic candidate, but even that makes you nothing more than sheep following the leader as sheep do.
Wake up and start voting with your brain and not with your eyes. Don't vote for someone out of a sense of loyalty. How loyal has JJJ been to us? Vote for the candidate (no matter the race or political party) that will fix what is wrong with our community, such as crooked politicians, increasing crime rates, and lack of employment opportunities.
BUTCH November 9, 2012 at 09:17 pm
U Think he's worthless! take a guess who the extortionists want to take his place there are actually 2 clue both are named JA*#*S**N
BUTCH November 9, 2012 at 09:42 pm
This pretender was a flawed candidate 17 years ago and now all the outrage! I was railing and RANTING about him and MANNY and the conspiracy that got him in office in 1995 when they railroaded Mel by having a 16 year old going on 26 as his receptionist in his office, I was writing letters to the editors So Town and Sun Times I NEVER SAW ANOTHER SINGLE POST on JJJ - Manny the ZIONIST-who takes his orders from HYMIE TOWN he was BLOOM GOP VP at the time who conspired with the JACKSONS in a conspiracy to rid the congress of the last anti Zionist in the peoples house GUS SAVAGE was also FRAMED in a sex SCANDAL
HYMIE TOWN are good at getting black guys in compromising situations with luscious bimbo's, Gus was never charged but would have if Mel had lost, This pathetic indignation is as phony as JJJ.
Debbie Hart November 9, 2012 at 09:45 pm
Why is he worried about losing his congressional health insurance? We've got Obamacare now, baby! As Nancy Pelosi said, "Obamacare allows you to quit your job and become 'whatever.'"
BUTCH November 9, 2012 at 09:57 pm
NA NA NA he has the Cadillac care we have ACA THAT IS WHY WE HAVE TO DEMAND THE SAME CARE, in 08 McCain said" he wanted all Americans to have the same health care as CONGRESS"! SO u going to demand we get it?
babyboomer November 10, 2012 at 12:08 am
Very well said Denice!! DITTO
Joe Lake November 10, 2012 at 12:10 am
JJJr: Rumors are that JJJr will resign his seat as early as tonight.. Joe Lake, Chicago
Juvenal November 10, 2012 at 02:29 am
"That boy was our last hope..."
"No. There is another........." -- Yoda
Joe Lake November 10, 2012 at 02:51 am
JJJr update: Watch CBS 2 at 10:00 p.m. for details tonight. Joe Lake, Chicago
Joe Lake November 10, 2012 at 07:21 am
Former U.S. Prosecutor... Plea Deal For Jackson Jr., CBS2, Nov.9, 2012. http://cbsloc.al/SShDhO Joe Lake, Chicago
Marcus Lewis November 10, 2012 at 01:34 pm
I was right. I told you the truth.
http://chicago.cbslocal.com/2012/11/09/former-u-s-prosecutor-negotiating-plea-deal-for-jackson-jr/
Marcus Lewis November 14, 2012 at 09:56 pm
Hello 2nd District, and a special greeting to the 38,733 that voted for me,
I thank you. The phrase for the day is: "GET SMART" VOTE FOR MARCUS LEWIS FOR CONGRESS APRIL 9TH, 2013 www.marcuslewisforcongress2012.org Vote for Marcus Lewis for US Congress, Illinois 2nd Congressional District 2012 www.marcuslewisforcongress2012.org This web page supports Marcus Lewis for US Congress 2012, Illinois 2nd Congressional District

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