Candidate No 5! Who would have guessed

Charlie P · 12-10-2008, 10:21 AM

Chicago Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., is the anonymous "Senate Candidate No. 5" whose emissaries Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich reportedly offered up to $1 million to name him to the U.S. Senate, federal law enforcement sources tell ABC News.

According to the FBI affidavit in the case, Blagojevich "stated he might be able to cut a deal with Senate Candidate 5 that provided ROD BLAGOJEVICH" with something "tangible up front."

Jackson said this morning he was contacted Tuesday by federal prosecutors in Chicago whom he said "asked me to come in and share with them my insights and thoughts about the selection process."

Jackson said, "I don't know" when asked whether he was Candidate No. 5, but said he was told "I am not a target of this investigation."

Jackson said he agreed to talk with federal investigators "as quickly as possible" after he consulted with a lawyer.

(Click here to watch ABC News interview Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.)

The congressman, a son of the famed civil rights leader, denied that anyone had been authorized to make payments or promises to the governor on his behalf.

"It is impossible for someone on my behalf to have a conversation that would suggest any type of quid pro quo or any payments or offers," Jackson told ABC News. "An impossibility to an absolute certainty."

"Senate Candidate No. 5" played a key role in the governor's efforts to obtain something of value in exchange for the Senate appointment, according to the FBI affidavit.

According to the affidavit, Blagojevich threatened to appoint Senate Candidate No. 5 if President-elect Obama refused to help get his wife on "paid corporate boards right now."

"If they feel like they can do this and not f-- give me anything then I'll f-- go [Senate Candidate 5]."

burniegoeasily · 12-10-2008, 10:24 AM

Rot row

Sorry Rainbow coalition.

falcon · 12-10-2008, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Jackson said he agreed to talk with federal investigators "as quickly as possible" after he consulted with a lawyer.

Of course he has nothing to hide.

etothepii · 12-10-2008, 12:10 PM

Quote:

"If they feel like they can do this and not f-- give me anything then I'll f-- go [Senate Candidate 5]."

Looks like J.J. Jr. was a pawn in this ... a bargaining tool. What a metaphor.

Charlie P · 12-10-2008, 12:27 PM

Dad is really going to want to cut off Obama's nads now.

909bowsniper · 12-10-2008, 12:30 PM

I'm not suprised by any of it!

12-10-2008, 12:31 PM

I have always wanted to be a senator. Wish, I could have gotten in on this.

falcon · 12-10-2008, 01:57 PM

I've watched this political corruption scene carefully since the Abscam thing went down. Politicians will sell their souls into hell to be a member of the US congress. They will bribe, steal, and lie, especially lie, in order to get to a job that that pays about $170,000 per year. Know why they do that?A few do it because they want to change government,a few do it for the ego trip but most do it in order to further enrich themselves. Lobbyists in DC will pay them millions for voting their way and most congressman do that. There are many thousands of lobbyists in DC, all of them with fat wallets.

nodog · 12-10-2008, 02:01 PM

Just too funny. It's pathetically hilarious.

etothepii · 12-10-2008, 03:54 PM

Quote:

They will bribe, steal, and lie, especially lie, in order to get to a job that that pays about $170,000 per year. Know why they do that?A few do it because they want to change government,a few do it for the ego trip but most do it in order to further enrich themselves.

In the words of a famous politician, "Yes we can!!!"