CHICAGO (AP)
Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., a once rising political star who has been on a mysterious medical leave for months for treatment of bipolar disorder, has resigned from Congress, a spokesman for House Speaker John Boehner said Wednesday.
Jackson's resignation and hushed absence from politics comes amid a continuing House Ethics Committee investigation into his dealings with imprisoned ex-Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, along with reports of a new federal probe into possible misuse of campaign money.
Boehner's spokesman Michael Steele said his office received a resignation letter from Jackson but did not comment further.
Jackson, 47, disappeared in June, and it was later revealed that he was being treated at the Mayo Clinic for bipolar disorder and gastrointestinal issues. He returned to his Washington home in September, but went back to the clinic the next month, with his father saying his son had not yet "regained his balance." He left the clinic a second time earlier this month.
His return to the clinic in October came amid reports that he faced a new federal investigation into potential misuse of campaign funds. The Chicago Sun-Times first reported the probe, citing anonymous sources. An FBI spokesman in Washington, Andrew Ames, has told The Associated Press he could neither confirm nor deny the existence of a federal investigation into Jackson.
Jackson was easily re-elected on Nov. 6 representing his heavily-Democratic district, even though his only communication with voters was a robocall asking them for patience. He spent election night at the Mayo Clinic, but later issued a statement thanking his supporters and saying he was waiting for his doctors' OK before he could "continue to be the progressive fighter" they'd known for years.
Jackson, whose father is the Rev. Jesse Jackson, took office in 1995 after winning a special election in a landslide. Voters in the district have said Jackson's family name and attention to local issues have been the reasons for their support. He's easily won every election since taking office and brought home close to $1 billion in federal money for his district during his tenure.
Comments
The fact that this guy was re-elected a few weeks ago says about all you need to know about politics in this country. Is it any wonder we are in a mess? They re-elect a thief who is looney tunes. Is it any wonder a clown like Obama is president? This country is quickly reaching the point of no return.
He can always plead insanity because of his convenient bipolar disorder in case he goes to trial over this... right?
"How much did he know , and when did he know?"
toy,
Obama graduated at the top of his class from Harvard. You call him a clown? The GED you received in the mail is shining through in your posts.
Jackson obviously cut a deal to make the investigations go away. Palin, although not facing the exact same allegations, did the same thing as Governor of Alaska. I read it on Qwitter!