Federal charges filed against Jesse Jackson Jr., wife
Federal charges were filed Friday against former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill. He’s alleged to have misused campaign funds.
A charge of filing a false tax return also was filed against Jackson’s wife Sandi, the Chicago Tribune reports.
Jackson released a statement apologizing for his actions:
“Over the course of my life I have come to realize that none of us are immune from our share of shortcomings and human frailties. Still I offer no excuses for my conduct and I fully accept my responsibility for the improper decisions and mistakes I have made. To that end I want to offer my sincerest apologies to my family, my friends and all of my supporters for my errors in judgment and while my journey is not yet complete, it is my hope that I am remembered for the things that I did right.”
Jackson who served eight full terms in Congress, resigned last November shortly after being re-elected to his Chicago seat by a 40-point vote margin, citing health issues and acknowledging an ongoing federal investigation into his alleged misuse of campaign funds.
He was mysteriously absent from Congress for much of the year. It was later revealed that he had undergone treatment at the Mayo Clinic for bipolar disorder.
Jackson, charged with conspiracy, making false statements and wire fraud, is accused of spending $750,000 in campaign funds for personal use. The Chicago Sun-Times reports that, among other things, Jackson purchased “Martin Luther King Jr. memorabilia for $5,595, Bruce Lee memorabilia for $2,955, a $5,000 football signed by American presidents and more than $20,000 for a variety of Michael Jackson memorabilia, including a fedora the singer wore for $4,600.”
He faces up to 57 months in prison.
