Jesse Jackson Jr.: 'I Did Nothing Wrong'

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. today emphatically denounced any pay-to-play schemes allegedly hatched by Rod Blagojevich.

He also said he never offered the Illinois governor anything but his solid credentials during talks about Barack Obama's Senate seat, and joined the chorus of others - including Obama - who are calling on Blagojevich to resign.

"I want to make this fact plain: I reject and denounce pay-to-play politics and have no involvement whatsoever in any wrongdoing. I did not initiate or authorize anyone at any time to promise anything to Governor Blagojevich on my behalf," Jackson said during a press conference. "I never sent a message or en emissary to the governor to make an offer, to plead my case, or to propose a deal about a U.S. Senate seat. Period. I thought, mistakenly, the process was fair, above board, and on the merits."

Jackson said he met with Blagojevich for the first time in four years on Tuesday, when he presented the governor with his case for why he should be considered for the Senate spot - and that didn't include any bribery money, he says. (He made a point to say he has the most seniority of all Illinois representatives in the House, except for one, and has only missed two votes in his 13 years there.)

"Despite what he [Blagojevich] may have been looking for, that's all I had to offer, and that's what we discussed," Jackson said of his record and legislative accomplishments.

"I thought mistakenly that the governor was considering me based on my 13 years of hard work ... I thought mistakenly I had a chance and I was being considered because I had earned it. Clearly I was badly mistaken. I did not know that the process was corrupted."

Jackson said he spoke with the U.S. attorneys investigating Blagojevich on Tuesday, and "they shared with me that I am not, I am not a target of this investigation and I am not accused of any misconduct." He will continue to cooperate "fully and completely." His lawyer advised him not to take any questions.

There were also a few tears, it seemed, as Jackson told of how his sister text-messaged him this morning telling him how proud she was of him. He also said the success of Obama - "a skinny kid with a funny name" - inspired him to think he could do more for his country by ascending to the Senate.

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It's been reported today that Jackson, R-IL, is the now-infamous "Candidate #5" discussed in the criminal complaint against Blagojevich.

CNN is reporting now that a law enforcement source is confirming that, although that source said there is no evidence any conversations between him and Blagojevich or the governor's people picked up by federal wiretaps. There is also so far no evidence whatsoever that says Jackson knew of any wrongdoing.

Jackson spoke briefly to reporters earlier this afternoon, saying he's guilt-free of any of Blagojevich's alleged schemes trying to sell Obama's Senate seat. The governor was caught on federal wiretaps or other recordings saying that representatives of "Candidate 5" approached him and offered "something tangible up front" - $500,000 to be exact - in exchange for the Senate seat.

"I feel very good. I have done nothing wrong," Jackson said this afternoon. "This is a very serious matter that is going to restore confidence at the end of this process, in government in Illinois. That is long overdue."

He added: "I think that a lot of people are going to be touched and affected by this process but I am confident we have engaged in no wrongdoing. The facts are going to bear themselves out and our state is going to be all the better for it."


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