Sun-Times: House Opens Jackson Probe

A Congressional panel has opened a preliminary review of Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) related to the criminal corruption case against ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Blagojevich believed “an emissary” from Jackson had offered him a “pay to play” scheme, where he would pocket $1 million in campaign contributions if he named Jackson to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by now-President Barack Obama, according to the complaint prosecutors filed against the then-Governor who was later impeached. Complicating matters for Jackson – who has denied any involvement – his brother Jonathan had attended a fundraiser with prominent supporters of his brother last fall, where participants reportedly recall discussing raising $1 million for Blagojevich. Prosecutors have not accused Jackson of wrongdoing in the matter. The congressman did not respond to an inquiry Tuesday.  "Jackson has never authorized anyone to seek the Governor’s support in return of money, fundraising or other things of value," his attorney said last December. The inquiry is being handled by the House of Representatives’ newly-created Office of Government Ethics. The year-old panel, composed of non-lawmakers and co-chaired by former Reps. David Skaggs (D-CO) and Porter Goss (R-FL), does not have subpoena powers and works largely out of public view.  It has faced criticism from outside watchdog groups. “I think they were set up to fail,” Melanie Sloan of the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) told Politico.com last month. “I think the way [it] was created, and the strictures on it, make it impossible to be effective.” The Sun-Times reported the panel opened its inquiry last Thursday, the same day prosecutors indicted Blagojevich.  The panel’s staff director would not confirm the inquiry. According to the newspaper, the panel asked former Blagojevich staffers to turn over “any documents, emails, or other correspondence” relating to Jackson Jr., his aides, his brother Jonathan, and fundraisers present at the events previously reported.