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Report: Jesse Jackson Jr might have helped the feds take down Blago

posted at 1:05 pm on December 16, 2008 by Allahpundit
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Curiouser and curiouser. ABC Chicago claims he’s been working with investigators since last summer on Blago’s attempt to trade state funding for an airport Jackson was championing in exchange for control of the airport’s board. That doesn’t prove JJJ wasn’t involved in the pay-to-play scheme for the Senate seat, but it does mean he’d have to have been an even bigger moron than Blagojevich to try something dirty knowing that Fitzgerald was closing in. Which, needless to say, is unlikely. Also needless to say, the feds are hanging him out to dry by not confirming his assistance. His reputation’s taken enough of a hit that he’s probably out of the running for Obama’s seat unless they step up and rehabilitate him. What’s the hold up if Blagojevich has been arrested?

No word from ABC on whether its sources came from Jackson’s camp or the feds. Exit question: If the story’s true, why didn’t Jackson warn his brother not to go throwing any fundraisers for Blago that maybe kinda sorta might seem suspiciously timed to coincide with the Senate appointment? And follow-up question: Why did other sources tell the Sun-Times just four days ago that the feds aren’t ready to clear Jackson just yet? Click the image to watch.


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Keep Dreaming.

Firebird on December 16, 2008 at 1:07 PM

Can the U.S. stand to have two “saviors”?

right2bright on December 16, 2008 at 1:08 PM

I call BS.

Iblis on December 16, 2008 at 1:09 PM

This is a joke, right?

Anyone who watched that pathetic press conference that JJJr. gave knows that he had no part in helping the feds take Blago down.

Whatever happened to common sense? … Oh yeah, political correctness killed it.

progressoverpeace on December 16, 2008 at 1:11 PM

Well, his daddy was planning to do a little ad hoc surgery on a certain messiah – I’d stay tuned for further developments.

Vashta.Nerada on December 16, 2008 at 1:11 PM

Please, you expect thinking people to believe that a son of Jesse helped in a corruption scam.

“I am sick of negros who just don’t get it!”

Rev. Wright

Mercy4Me on December 16, 2008 at 1:12 PM

It’s probably Jackson’s camp that is putting out the feelers. I think that the reason why Jackson was willing to play footsie with Blago. over the Senate seat is because he didn’t think that this was an illegal quid pro quo. I’m sure that funds for votes/ other favors goes on all the time in politics; the reason why this crossed the line is because it was so explicit as well as because Blago. also was trying to get a job for himself or his wife and not just campaign cash.

Illinidiva on December 16, 2008 at 1:12 PM

“Calamity is the test of integrity.”

Samuel Richardson

DL13 on December 16, 2008 at 1:13 PM

ABC Chicago claims he’s been working with investigators since last summer on Blago’s attempt to trade state funding for an airport Jackson was championing in exchange for control of the airport’s board.

Sounds like ABC Chicago was bought off.

Shocking!

Not so much.

Gregor on December 16, 2008 at 1:13 PM

With Caroline Kennedy being the NY Senator, Illinois is going have to up the ante if they want to get any reporters to their press conferences. Oprah fits the bill.

pedestrian on December 16, 2008 at 1:15 PM

Oh, and a news flash, Pat Nixon might have been helping Woodward and Bernstein bring down President Nixon. Ya, sure.

devolvingtowardsidiocracy on December 16, 2008 at 1:18 PM

No word from ABC on whether its sources came from Jackson’s camp or the feds.

One of the advantages of using anonymous sources when floating a trial balloon.

a capella on December 16, 2008 at 1:19 PM

One of the advantages of using anonymouscompletely made-up bogus sources when floating a trial balloon.

Fixed it.

Gregor on December 16, 2008 at 1:27 PM

Well if JJJ learned anything from his dad, he should be real good at shakedowns.

rbj on December 16, 2008 at 1:28 PM

You couldn’t pay me to believe that!

christene on December 16, 2008 at 1:32 PM

DOH! Another black guy under BHO’s bus! It’s getting so full under there that I’m not sure Rham E. will fit, he’s next… then Billery… then Biden… then… Oh God, I do love this so… Revenge to the morons that voted for BHO, but he is the MSM’s Messiah and Teflon man, so who knows.

Mark Garnett on December 16, 2008 at 1:35 PM

Also needless to say, the feds are hanging him out to dry by not confirming his assistance.

Why the heck is it the Feds’ job to comment on every ABC story?

If JJJ wants to clear his public image, then why couldn’t HE simply announce that he’d been helping with the investigation? If he’s not willing to come forward then that means he’s not willing to testify, so he can’t be cooperating very much then.

Therefore, even if we go out on a limb and assume the ABC reporters’ imaginary friend is telling the truth, then if neither side is willing to comment, that means there’s no way JJJ could have been some kind of brave whistleblower. That would make him, at most, a stool pigeon who cut a deal to get out of being prosecuted himself.

logis on December 16, 2008 at 1:35 PM

Jessie Jackson helping take down Chicago corruptocrats?

My skeptic-o-meter just pegged.

thirteen28 on December 16, 2008 at 1:35 PM

JJ Jr. is not a crook. He did the right thing here. It probably cost him the senate seat but his integrity wouldn’t let him cheat.

kanda on December 16, 2008 at 1:36 PM

The consensus was Jackson’s hope of being named or even winning a race for the Senate was killed when his associate was confirmed as “Candidate No. 5″ in the Blago indictment. This is the only way he gets back into the game — by showing that he and his people was helping the feds and not helping themselves with their overture to Blagojevich. Hopefully, someone in Fitzgerald’s office will comment on this claim in a hurry, so if it is true Jesse Jr. can be taken off this scandal list, and if it’s not true, the denial doesn’t hang around long enough to be trumpeted so that the Jackson camp can make people believe it is true.

jon1979 on December 16, 2008 at 1:36 PM

My ass.

BigWyo on December 16, 2008 at 1:38 PM

We need Jesse Jackson’s Sr.’s intake on all this!

Quick! Someone set up a microphone and a camera with a live feed to all the networks in front of Jesse’s house!

I guarantee he will be in front of that microphone by the time you turn the thing on!

pilamaye on December 16, 2008 at 1:39 PM

Shakedown artists down like being shook down. Plausible, not probable…

phreshone on December 16, 2008 at 1:41 PM

JJ Jr. is not a crook. He did the right thing here. It probably cost him the senate seat but his integrity wouldn’t let him cheat.

kanda on December 16, 2008 at 1:36 PM

I hope that’s sarcasm. If not, please seek medical help.

Gregor on December 16, 2008 at 1:41 PM

It probably cost him the senate seat

kanda on December 16, 2008 at 1:36 PM

Interesting choice of words. “cost”, indeed.

Anyone who watched JJJr’s press conference and thought that he came across like a guy who knew, deep down, that he was on the side of the feds is just too stupid for words.

progressoverpeace on December 16, 2008 at 1:45 PM

His reputation’s taken enough of a hit that he’s probably out of the running for Obama’s seat unless they step up and rehabilitate him.

Let’s go out on a limb here.

JJ Jr. is not a crook. He did the right thing here. It probably cost him the senate seat but his integrity wouldn’t let him cheat.

kanda on December 16, 2008 at 1:36 PM

I can’t improve on Gregor at 1:41 p.m.

BuckeyeSam on December 16, 2008 at 1:52 PM

It’s time for the annual Christmas special in Chicago. Is he throwing the Golden Gate in free?

meltenn on December 16, 2008 at 1:56 PM

And if you believe that…

chunderroad on December 16, 2008 at 2:02 PM

**Here it comes!**

Rahm’s calls on tape
The Blago scandal . . .

December 16, 2008
BY MICHAEL SNEED Sun-Times Columnist

Sneed hears rumbles President-elect Barack Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, is reportedly on 21 different taped conversations by the feds — dealing with his boss’ vacant Senate seat!

Y-not on December 16, 2008 at 2:10 PM

Well, Can’t wait to hear the Collies point of view! This is to funny. Rats everywhere eh?

sheebe on December 16, 2008 at 2:22 PM

Did Fitzie supply the 500K? Or was it a cool million?

mojo on December 16, 2008 at 2:23 PM

the best part of that video is the bottom right hand corner

10 degrees in Chicago

you people are insane to live there…insane.

DrW on December 16, 2008 at 2:25 PM

This corruption will take years to figure out. JJJ’s role won’t be clear for a long time.

He’ll be lucky to get out of it alive.

notagool on December 16, 2008 at 2:25 PM

10 degrees in Chicago

Don’t worry about us. Fitz puts the Heat on the politicians and so many are corrupt the people are able to keep warm from it.

My house is Uncle Sam green. Powered by Fitzanol!

gabriel sutherland on December 16, 2008 at 2:37 PM

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/rezko/1333402,tony-rezko-sentencing-postponed-121608.article

Link works weird! Well, honestly I guess I didn’t understand it. In too big of a hurry.

Webrider on December 16, 2008 at 2:44 PM

Riiiight…..

t.ferg on December 16, 2008 at 2:54 PM

I asked Patty Blagojevich about this and she said:

“Are you fuc&ing kidding me? That go&&amn piece of sh%t and his fu&king father can burn in hell.”

I think what Patty was trying to say is that J.J. Jr. (hey hey hey) was too busy trying to buy his way into the office to be helping the Feds nail her husband.

grdred944 on December 16, 2008 at 2:57 PM

Bing.

JJ Jr. is not a crook. He did the right thing here. It probably cost him the senate seat but his integrity wouldn’t let him cheat.

kanda on December 16, 2008 at 1:36 PM

You’re nuts.

Jaibones on December 16, 2008 at 3:18 PM

Hey, Allah – you got an in with Sneed?

Sneed hears rumbles President-elect Barack Obama’s chief of staff, Rahm Emanuel, is reportedly on 21 different taped conversations by the feds — dealing with his boss’ vacant Senate seat!

A lot of chit-chat? Hot air? Or trouble?

Jaibones on December 16, 2008 at 3:22 PM

Oh, and 21’s a lot. Heh.

Jaibones on December 16, 2008 at 3:23 PM

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/rezko/1333402,tony-rezko-sentencing-postponed-121608.article

Link works weird! Well, honestly I guess I didn’t understand it. In too big of a hurry.

January 6 is too early. Fitz needs to keep him singing until January 20. Now about that South Side mansion…

Steve Z on December 16, 2008 at 3:48 PM

Jackson Jr. said a few days ago that he is not a target of the investigation. But since he would have the most to gain (a Senate Seat) by playing ball with Blagojevich, after others refused, why would he rat on Blagojevich?

Methinks the man doth protest too much. Just because HE says he’s not a target doesn’t mean that the Feds agree. Reminds me of Richard “I am not a crook” Nixon.

Steve Z on December 16, 2008 at 3:57 PM

Working with, meaning turned states evidence, meaning a rat who got caught. A rat who continued his crimes. Remember, this is having another crook testify against another crook. Happens all the time in law enforcement, especially corruption cases.

federale86 on December 16, 2008 at 10:29 PM

Whatever happened to common sense? … Oh yeah, political correctness killed it.

progressoverpeace on December 16, 2008 at 1:11 PM

Boy, that aint no $hit.

saiga on December 17, 2008 at 12:04 PM

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