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Post by Bornthrilla on Dec 10, 2008 16:16:06 GMT -5
firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/12/10/1709126.aspxFrom NBC’s Pete Williams A law enforcement official confirms that the person referred to in the federal criminal complaint against Gov. Rod Blagojevich as "Candidate 5" is Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. However, federal officials caution that they have no evidence, other than statements made by Blagojevich, about whether Candidate 5 actually made any improper approaches to the governor. No conversations with Candidate 5 were ever picked up on any of the bugs or wiretaps. Jackson's office put out a brief statement, quoting him as follows: "Since the federal investigation of the governor is ongoing, it would be inappropriate for me to comment beyond my initial statement. However, I reject and denounce pay-to-play politics and have no involvement whatsoever in any wrongdoing. I won't hesitate to cooperate fully and completely with the federal government's investigation." According to the criminal complaint, on Oct. 31st, Blagojevich was overheard saying of Candidate 5, "We were approached 'pay to play,' that, you know, he'd raise me 500 grand. An emissary came. Then the other guy would raise a million, if I made him a senator." But federal officials say the recordings did not pick up any conversations with Candidate 5 or the emissary. It's important to note that this is a third-hand statement: Blagovich is repeating what he says was the emissary's description of what Candidate 5 said. Nonetheless, investigators are reaching out to all the figures mentioned in the criminal complaint, including Candidate 5, to learn more about what happened.
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Post by Bornthrilla on Dec 10, 2008 16:31:30 GMT -5
I just watched the live press conference on MSNBC.com.
He denied all the allegations but I fear that his political career is over. He needs Dooms to be his legal representation.
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Post by Aggie One on Dec 10, 2008 17:18:33 GMT -5
Their Gov is a total nut job, self absorbed and frankly appears mentally unstable to me much like his wife. I wouldn't worry about Junior's career one bit because Chicago and the State Illinois are a far different political animal than anything we see in this part of the country with the exception of Louisana.
Believe me from personal experience in working with them on a regular basis in this state, if there was any fire or even a whiff of smoke to the allegations, they (U.S. Attorney's Office) would have hung both him and Obama out to dry by now. These guys do not play.
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JayBee
Official BDF member
Posts: 1,852
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Post by JayBee on Dec 10, 2008 17:54:33 GMT -5
I don't think this will affect his political career!
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Post by aggiejazz on Dec 11, 2008 0:45:42 GMT -5
I don't think this will affect his political career! As a house congressman I agree but US senator, I am not sure. |
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Post by SixtiesAggie on Dec 11, 2008 10:55:13 GMT -5
With his name, he could not have ever won or win a statewide senate election. He will remain in congress.
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Post by Bornthrilla on Dec 12, 2008 12:23:19 GMT -5
Jackson Jr. denies Senate seat scheme role
Report: Jackson backers sought cash for to help persuade Blagojevich
CHICAGO - Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. flatly denies that he and his brother were involved in a scheme to get him a Senate seat in a deal with scandal-tainted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
The remarks in an interview with The Associated Press Friday came on the heels of a Chicago Tribune report that cited unidentified sources. The newspaper said businessmen with ties to the governor and congressmen discussed raising $1 million for Blagojevich to get him to appoint Jackson to the Senate. The report depicts Jackson's brother as an active participant.
The congressman said "to an absolute certainty" that his brother was not involved in any scheming or wrongdoing.
Jackson has been identified as "Senate Candidate 5" in a federal complaint. The governor is overheard saying the candidate would raise $500,000 for Blagojevich, and an emissary would raise an additional $1 million.
Citing unnamed sources, the Chicago Tribune reports in a story for Friday's editions that businessman Raghuveer Nayak and Blagojevich aide Rajinder Bedi told attendees at an Oct. 31 meeting that they needed to raise the money for the governor to ensure Jackson's appointment.
"Raghu said he needed to raise a million for Rod to make sure Jesse got the seat," an unidentified source who attended the meeting told the Tribune. Blagojevich also attended the meeting, which was sponsored by Nayak, an Oak Brook businessman.
A message left at a listing for Raghuveer Nayak in Oak Brook was not immediately returned early Friday. No published listing for Bedi could be found.
Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday on federal corruption charges that allege, among other things, a brazen scheme to put Obama's vacant Senate seat up for sale.
According to the FBI complaint, the Oct. 31 meeting took place the same day federal prosecutors intercepted a conversation in which Blagojevich claims he'd been approached by a representative for an unnamed "Senate Candidate 5" who offered cash in exchange for the Senate seat.
On Wednesday, it was revealed that Jackson was the candidate.
"We were approached 'pay to play,'" Blagojevich said in the call. The candidate would raise $500,000 for Blagojevich, and an emissary would raise an additional $1 million, according to the conversation.
ackson spokesman Rick Bryant told the Tribune that while Jackson discussed the Senate seat with Nayak, he never asked him to do anything.
Nayak, 54, has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Blagojevich and is also close to the Jackson family. Bedi has also been a Blagojevich fundraiser.
The Oct. 31 meeting led to a Blagojevich fundraiser held Saturday that was co-sponsored by Nayak. The governor attended, as did Jackson's brother Jonathan, who went into business with Nayak several years ago, according to the newspaper report.
Two days later, Jackson met with Blagojevich to discuss the Senate seat.
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Post by Bornthrilla on Dec 12, 2008 12:24:34 GMT -5
This is why I said his career is over. If he has any enemies, they are going to have a field day with all this speculation.
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Post by SixtiesAggie on Dec 12, 2008 14:43:35 GMT -5
You may be correct in your assessment. However, I believe that if he is not found guilty of any wrongdoing, he would be re-elected to the house in his congressional district. He has done a good job and the people like him. I think that his career probably would have ended had he taken the senate seat. I don't think that he could run for the senate and win the seat in a statewide election at the end of the term. I believe that he would lose.
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