Blogging Blago: Jesse Jackson Jr. Has Snitched on Blagojevich Before

3 years ago

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Well, the curveballs just keep on coming. Via CNN:

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.--who was cited in a criminal complaint against Rod Blagojevich--has been an informant for at least a decade with the U.S. Attorney's office, and has informed on the embattled governor of Illinois, though not in the case currently under investigation, Jackson spokesman Kenneth Edmonds told CNN Tuesday.

So what case was JJJ regularly singing about to the Feds? Well, it seems that Blago tried to shake down Jackson back in 2002 to the tune of $25,000. Jackson refused, and his wife, who was up for a job as the director of the state's lottery commission, was suddenly denied the post by none other than Blago himself.

"You see what $25,000 would have done," Blago reportedly said to Jackson in 2003.

Jackson reported the incident in 2006. How does all this reflect on the scandal of 2008? Beats me. But it's damn good entertainment, no?

Filed Under: Senate, Democrats, Breaking News, Scandal, Investigations

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