Wednesday, February 20, 2013
Our former representative will now face a June 28 sentencing date and potentially significant jail time after pleading guilty to misusing an estimated $750,000 in campaign funds.
Former 2nd District Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. pleaded guilty to illegally spending roughly three quarters of a million dollars in campaign money, according to the Sun-Times Media. “For years I lived off my campaign. I used money that should have been for campaign purposes for personal purposes,” Jackson Jr. told Judge Robert Wilkins. Jackson reportedly claimed his decision to plead guilty was because he has “no interest in wasting the taxpayers’ time or their money.” According to the Chicago Tribune, Jackson said "Tell everybody back home I'm sorry I let 'em down, OK?,” to a reporter on his way out of the courtroom. In what might be a mitigating attempt, Jackson’s lawyer, Reid Weingarten, said he plans to make an extensive presentation …
Both our former representative and his wife are expected to plead guilty to separate federal charges at their respective court appearances today.
Former 2nd District Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is expected to plead guilty at his 9:30 a.m. court appearance today in what some attorneys are calling the largest case of misused campaign funds in recent time, the Chicago Tribune reports. Read: Jesse Jackson Jr. Charged With Federal Crimes Jackson’s wife, former Chicago Alderman Sandi Jackson, will follow in court at 1:30 p.m. later today. She, too, is expected to plead guilty. Get the rest of the story at the Chicago Tribune’s website Get in on the conversation. Join Patch today.
Friday, February 8, 2013
The former U.S. representative's plea deal will include jail time, according to Sun-Times Media reports.
Former 2nd District Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. has signed a plea deal with prosecutors, Sun-Times Media reports. Sources close to the investigation yesterday reported that the deal could include “significant jail time” for the defamed U.S. Representative. Jackson has been subject of a federal investigation since October 2012, for alleged misuse of campaign funds. Reports of Jackson’s misused finances include the purchase of a $40,000 Rolex watch and $5,000 per month to pay his wife’s consulting firm, according to the Sun-Times. Jackson’s wife, Sandi, is also in the crosshairs of a federal probe that spawned from Jackson’s initial investigation. For more, read the Sun-Times Media report.
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
The filing deadline has passed and the candidates have added their names to the list, but who will you vote for?
We now have a much clearly picture of what at least part of the ballot will look like for 2nd District voters this February, with 17 Democrats and five Republicans having filed their petitions before the Jan. 7 deadline. The list has plenty of notable South Suburban names, including state Sen. Toi Hutchinson, whose office is in Chicago Heights. Hutchinson announced her candidacy in a Local Voices post on Patch and has been considered a front-runner by some. Then there's former U.S. Rep. Debbie Halvorson, of Crete. She lost to former Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. in last year's primary election for the same seat. Are her chances any better this year? Former state Rep. Robin Kelly, of Matteson, is another contender. She recently left her …
Friday, January 4, 2013
In today's Patch Talk, Chris and Ryan discuss your suggestions for how to improve Chicago Heights and Homewood. We also talk a little about the 2nd District special election.
Visit these articles, mentioned in today's Patch Talk: Sign up for daily news alerts: Join the discussion on Facebook:
Thursday, December 27, 2012
We're taking a look back at five key stories we published in 2012, but feel free to add to the list in our comments section!
March 16, 2012 The Bloom 206 boy's basketball team kicked off a year of incredible athletic accomplishments in Chicago Heights when they went to the Class 4A State Semifinals. The excitement surrounding the moment made for one of the best photo galleries of 2012. Team finished 4th and game home to a ton of support from the City of Chicago Heights, including a pat on the back from Mayor David Gonzalez. Oct. 29, 2012 A broken wrist for Brandon Kelly became a blessing for the Homewood Cancer Support Center, as he raised hundreds of dollars by donning a pink cast and asking anyone that signed it to donate money to the organization. To cap things off, Kelly got to see his NFL rookie uncle, Dennis Kelly, play his first game with the …
Monday, November 26, 2012
Quinn is trying to change one of the dates to avoid millions of dollars in election costs to replace former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.
The process to replace former U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. will begin in February, according to Gov. Pat Quinn, who has set a special primary election for Feb. 26, the Chicago Tribune reports. Quinn ordered a subsequent special general election for March 19, which will determine who will ultimately replace Jackson for the rest of his term. The primary election occurs on the same date as the municipal primary elections. The special general election will be three weeks earlier than the actual general election because state law requires any special general election to be held within 115 days of a congressional vacancy occurring. The special general election could still be moved to April 9, as Quinn said he would work with the General Assembly …
Wednesday, November 21, 2012
In the letter, Jackson says he will accept responsibility for his mistakes.
In a letter to House Speaker John Boehner, Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. has resigned from his seat of 17 years. In the letter Jackson makes mention of the federal investigation into his campaign spending, and says he has made his share of mistakes. Jackson also touts his accomplishments as a congressman, namely bringing fresh water to Ford Heights and putting together a $400 million proposal for an airport in Peotone. Read the full letter, addressed to Boehner, above. Patch will post more information as it becomes available. Sign up for daily news alerts: Join the discussion on Facebook:
Jackson tendered his resignation Wednesday afternoon in a letter to House Speaker John Boehner.
U.S. Rep Jesse Jackson Jr. has relinquished his seat representing the 2nd Congressional District, the Chicago Tribune reports. Jackson resigned Wednesday afternoon in a letter to House Speaker John Boehner. A spokesman for Boehner confirmed receiving the letter, NBC reports. Read the full letter, addressed to Boehner. Jackson, 47, is currently the subject of a federal investigation into his campaign spending. Several media outlets have reported that Jackson is in plea deal talks that could include jail time and resignation from the congressional seat he has held for nearly 18 years. Although he did not campaign, Jackson easily won reelection to another two-year term on Nov. 6, beating out both a Republican and independent challenger. …
Thursday, November 15, 2012
Chicago Heights Patch Editor Chris Paicely was asked to relay what south suburban 2nd District residents think of the absent congressman.
Apparently Patch has been reporting on Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. a lot. Go figure. Because Patch has covered Jackson's 2012 rollercoaster ride so extensively, Huff Post Live's Marc Lamont Hill asked Chicago Heights Patch Editor Chris Paicely to share his thoughts about the 2nd District. Patch readers have expressed plenty of outrage over the congressman's re-election, Paicely said, but there have also been a few who are more sympathetic toward his current struggles. What are your thoughts on Patch's contribution to the conversation? Follow our Jesse Jackson Jr. coverage by visiting our topics page. Sign up for daily news alerts: Join the discussion on Facebook:
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11:40 am on Saturday, February 23, 2013
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