Jesse Jackson Jr’s Cooperation with Fitz
Multiple stories–explicitly sourced to Jesse Jackson Jr’s allies–report that Jesse Jackson started cooperating with Fitz as least as early as earlier this year. Here are some data points on JJJ’s cooperation and other involvement.
He apparently told Fitz earlier this year that in 2003, Blago conditioned a position for JJJ’s wife on a $25,000 donation.
Jackson has been in regular contact with the feds and has told the government that in 2003 Blagojevich denied the congressman’s wife Sandi an appointment as Illinois lottery director because Jackson would not donate $25,000 to the governor’s campaign fund.
Also earlier this year, JJJ told Fitz that he refused to accept Tony Rezko’s condition that the state would support a third airport only if JJJ agreed to let Blago approve the airport board.
The meeting in June of 2006 at a Gold Coast hotel included Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. and Blagojevich fundraiser Antoin "Tony" Rezko.
The topic was a proposed third airport at Peotone, Jackson’s pet project which needed more state money. Rezko allegedly demanded that the governor be given control of the airport’s board. Jackson refused and state support for the project stopped.
Fitz’s folks called JJJ last Monday night to give him a head’s up that they were arresting Blago and that a reference to him would show up in the complaint.
Reportedly, last week, both JJJ and his father (who appears not to have been mentioned in the complaint) both retained lawyers.
Also last week, JJJ issued a narrow denial: denying any involvement in pay-to-play, while not denying someone may have made an offer to Blago in his name without his knowledge or support.
I want to make this fact plain: I reject and denounce pay-to- play politics and have no involvement whatsoever in any wrongdoing. I did not initiate or authorize anyone, at any time, to promise anything to Governor Blagojevich on my behalf.
I never sent a message or an emissary to the governor to make an offer, to plead my case, or to propose a deal about a U.S. Senate seat, period.
Also in his denial, JJJ described his sister’s support for what he has done. And in an previously unremarked reference, he described being proud of Illinois in the last 2.5 years.
This morning, I got a text message from my little sister, who told me that she was proud of me. She was proud of what I’ve done for this nation.
In the 14 years that I’ve nearly served in this Congress, I’ve tried to honor this institution and I’ve tried to honor public service because I believed that it was a noble profession (inaudible) a profession that requires the highest possible sacrifice. It is public service, but it is private sacrifice.
And so this morning, she told me, "Jesse Jr., I’m proud of you." That came from my — from my little sister.
And I felt that kind of pride over the last two and a half years in our state. And I know this is a low moment for the people of our state. [my emphasis]
And, there appear to have been meetings that correlated with the allegations pertaining to JJJ in the complaint. On October 31, a JJJ fundraiser approached Blago. And then on December 6, that person co-hosted a fundraiser for JJJ that some participants appear to have believed pertained to JJJ’s bid for the Senate.
Finally, earlier today, a judge approved the indefinite postponement of Rezko’s sentencing, suggesting that he has suddenly decided to cooperate more enthusiastically than he had earlier.
My best guess–and it’s just a guess–is that JJJ got totally exposed by fundraisers who really did approach Blago without his consent or knowledge. It doesn’t seem like a sting, for several reasons (the timing of the first approaches to Blago on October 31), and if it were, it wouldn’t make sense for JJJ (or his father) to have gotten a lawyer only at this point. Also, it doesn’t make sense to arrest Blago suddenly based on a sting surrounding the Senate seat.
That said, I’m confused about the 2.5 year reference. It seems to tie to Obama’s run for President, though it could well relate to cooperation. (JJJ says it again a few paragraphs later, specifically in context of Obama.)
And I’d say that JJJ’s statement seems much more loaded than it even did when he made it. Consider, for example, JJJ’s statement that he hasn’t met Blago for four years–which would have been just after Blago tried to extort a donation in relation to an appointment for JJJ’s wife.
You mean fundraisers “approach” Blago “without his consent”?
Yes – people (officious intermeddlers who are also fundraisers) might have gone to Blago without JJJ knowing about it and said “we think you should appoint JJJ to Barack’s seat”.
In the context of all this swirling around, I think anyone would see it as rational to lawyer up, if only to have someone to talk to whom you could believe would not be working for the feds, or for another snake trying to set you up (or both). Also, communicating with the feds through your lawyer is a lot more helpful when you want to avoid “false statements” charges. Just ask Rove about how helpful.
On JJJ’s part, I buy that–though I think it’s indicative that he didn’t know of his fundraisers’ involvement.
On JJS’s part, though, I think there’s one step further. I have no idea what his involvement is, and no reason to believe it is untoward, but it does suggest he has some reason to believe Fitz might want to speak with him (or that he might have something to say to Fitz).
Re: not knowing about fundraisers’ involvement.
Think about all the times around politics and blogs when you’ve heard some dizz-ball go off about “how wonderful it would be if …” and they start speaking in tones that tell of free unicorns and ponies for everyone and rivers of hot chocolate with marshmallows with bushes bearing cups and spoons growing from the banks.
In my experience, it’s the kind of talk that often sets off some other soft-minded idiot in the crowd into whipping out (uninvited, of course) their guitar (which they just happen to have brought along) and compelling everyone into joining into a half-hour of folk songs.
You know. The people who make you feel like Bluto coming down the steps at the Delta house during the toga party, and busting up the guitar.
Even in the rough world of Chicago/Illinois politics, I am quite sure there is a more-than-ample number of people like the unicorn/pony/ marshmallow songsters and their guitar accompaniment. Some of them doubtless also raise funds. And, while the money they bring might make their presence tolerated, you can be sure that pols want to spend as little time as possible around them and their “everything would be wonderful” starry-eyed-ness.
Above all, the pols would definitely avoid ever looking into their eyes.
So, I could definitely see a bunch of that sort of clowns – with some record of raising money – actually getting in to see someone around Blago and talking about how wonderful it would be if Blago would make JJJ the new senator because then Saint Barack’s seat could go to a black man and someone whose family has been in The Movement from the Beginning and so on. And I could just as easily see someone on the other side of that meeting saying “sure. Bring me a million dollars and we’ll see.”
The tone of the “bring me…” would be in that sarcastic “and if pigs had wings” tone, but Mr. and Mrs. Unicorn/Pony/Marshmallow would almost certainly take it seriously.
Possible? Sure.
Likely? Who knows. We’ve seen plenty of weirdness so far, and we still have five weeks to Inauguration Day.
You know. The people who make you feel like Bluto coming down the steps at the Delta house during the toga party, and busting up the guitar.
Yup.
I often find myself sharing the emotion Bluto’s face expresses at about 0:21 to 0:23 of that clip. Particularly around the unicorn/pony/marshmallow people – like the ones sitting rapt around the singer in that clip.
Oh. I forgot to mention. The unicorn/pony/marshmallow people almost always have both a preternatural abundance of energy for their projects and do not take direction well. They also tend to just go off on their own and do whatever without telling people. Particularly when they get their “wouldn’t it be wonderful” vibe going.
You know what I’m talking about.
So, I’d say it’s entirely possible that JJJ would never have known about such a group going off on their own hook to get him into the Senate.
scribe,
Unicorns and ponies do not put up $1 million between 25 friends for somebody to get a senate seat.
The guys involved in the fundraiser were already on Fitzgerald’s radar screen. One got huge pharmacy contracts in return for contributions to Blags.
I still believe JJJr may not have known what they were doing. But these were not just a bunch of dreamers saying what if, except in the sense that most crooks are just dreamers with different dreams from you and me.
Digg it!
sorry, that was not a response to 23
Though scribe presents a “possibility”, I’m more like you. The corrupt schemers typically all know they are dirtbags with few if qualms about “bending” the rules.
I’m not saying they are complete criminals in all aspects of their lives (they go to church every week and always give to their favorite charities), but they do believe in a world defined as one where giving a sucker an even break is for suckers.
Why take the long way around when “shortcuts” are so much faster?
Citizen nextstopchicago:
Thanks for remindin’ us that the folks involved in the fundraisers were already on Fitz’s radar because this is where JJJ’s alleged “cooperation” becomes important…if JJJ had been turned earlier and had reason to know about an investigation, he’s not gunna get himself or any of his immediate family caught as corpus delicti on tape in a room with Count Blogojevich and he certainly wouldn’t try and double cross Fitz. JJS may in fact be pissed because PEBO skated around the entire messby allowin’ the Jackson’s ta take the fall.
…report that Jesse Jackson started cooperating with Fitz as least as early as earlier this year
Well that sounds exculpating. He started cooperating “as early as…” sometime in the past?
Well, if it’s true he was involved over the last 2.5 years as an informant to Fitz, it makes me wonder about Jesse Jackson’s (Sr)very negative comments about Obama. Was there something more to his remarks about Obama when he thought no one could hear him?
Well, it’s not like a bunch of folks didn’t suggest that Chicago was likely to present some grey area for Obama and possibly some fodder for attack dogs.
We don’t know that–like I said, the 2.5 late seems to refer to Obama’s presidential run. The reports say he started cooperating after Rezko’s sentencing, so summer of this year. It’s just that evidence on REZKO goes back to 2006, on BLago to 2003.
This whole thing of JJJ informing going back 2.5 years made me wonder if JJJ initially got caught doing a no-no himself (with Blago/Rezko?)and got turned by the Feds to be a snitch with a promise to bury his own lil’ problem.
The reason that I come to this theory is that it has seemed to me that JJJ has acted awfully defensive since the Blago complaint showed up.
More defensive than a “innocent” victim would seem to be.
On the indefinite postponement of Rezko’s sentencing, who requested that? Rezko’s sons were quoted in the paper recently (last 2 weeks) saying that he just wanted to be sentenced, because being in solitary at the Metropolitan Correctional Center was shortening his life. He wasn’t in very good shape, they said. He hadn’t seen the sky or breathed outdoor air since his incarceration.
Maybe the mentions of JJJ’s sister are a message to JJJ’s brother.
I gotta say EW, if you keep pulling on all these loose threads, you’re gonna unravel the whole thing.
Has Fitz contacted you yet to hold off until he gets them all indicted? *g*
… or to replace his entire staff ? *g*
Would not want Fitz or EW hunting for me
Given a choice, I’d much rather it be Fitz. *g*
Yah, I just re-read the posts. but it still makes me wonder about Jesse Sr’s negative comments. At the time I found them a little shocking and out of place. I realize there could have been sour grapes but the intensity seemed a little off to me. In the last year is when Jesse Sr said what he did on the campaign trail.
Obama has always had problems with some older members of the African American community. Remember at the beginning of the race, people believed Clinton, not Obama, would win the A-A vote.
During JJJ’s press conference I just thought he seemed above board. And if he was lying he sunk his ship during that press conference. There just would not be any bouncing back from what he had to say that day
FWIW, when he comes to the bottom of his driveway to talk to reporters, to me, he’s not acting like a guilty man. His face is open, like he’s got nothing to hide or be ashamed of. More so than at the press conference.
Agreed.
Jesse Junior “claims” he’s been an informant to the Government re: Blogo.
He’s either creating a public excuse for appearing on tapes discussing bribery OR he legitimately worked with Fitz to sting Blogo.
It’s too early for Jackson to have come out with this statement on his own, unless he’s front-running some bad news that’s pending. Fitz cannot have approved of this timing.
Could be indicative of Jackson’s known guilt.
Clearly Reverend Jackson had a massive chip on his shoulder re: Obama – given his overheard insult during the campaign. Was JJJ an informant re: Obama himself in the lead up to the election? It seems damn obvious to me that Obama had specifically told the Rev. to sit on the sidelines (off the airwaves) throughout the campaign so as to avoid comparisons in the media.
Jesse may well have felt totally slighted, and out of the massive campaign finance loop. Put yourself in the reverend’s shoes, with that much money swirling around a Dem candidate from Chicago, who is black…and none for him.
Both of the Jacksons may have been motivated to work at cross purposes to Obama…though that is just a total guess. At the least, they could have had conflicting agendas.
You think there aren’t people in Democratic politics who are all unicorns, ponies and marshmallows?
Watch the casualties as the Republicans proceed to roll the Democrats in both houses of congress, time and again. The Democrats will be standing there crying like little girls. No offense to girls intended, either.
You think there aren’t people in Democratic politics who are all unicorns, ponies and marshmallows?
Very few of them operate in Chicago. Seriously. And despite the fact that it’s an old folkie town. In fact, one of the few virtues of the local political culture in my book is consistency.
I think you’re both generalizing. The question is not whether there are touchy-feely people who just want justice involved in Chicago politics or making donations to Illinois politicians.
The question is whether these particular heavy-hitter donors, some of whom just happened to be holders of state contracts, wanted only justice and peace, at an average price of $50,000/each on short notice.
Not a fucking chance in the world. Maybe a few of them were there because they’ve already made their money, and this just like Jesse. But for the organizers, this was about contracts.
So, at this point, it’s looking like JJJ is likely to personally come through this with his name intact.
However, it remains to be seen if someone in his organization played it shady and started some action with the
bookiesfundraisers, who then talked it up with Blago, unbeknownst to JJJ.So that, by Monday Morning, Blago thought he was going to be sitting across the table from a smiling JJJ, who was going to be prepared to pledge a $1.5M sack full of cash for the Senate Seat.
One would think that immediately after the Monday Meeting – when Jackson presumably told Blago ‘No’ on the Pay-to-Play offer – Blago made calls to the Fundraisers, who turned around and made calls to the Emmissary from the Jackson Camp.
Then Blago was arrested Tuesday morning.
In the MSM Pat Buchanan and others are saying “that starting some action with fundraisers” is “business as usual” in the political arena.
“pay to play” just another day in that world.
Man oh man Chris Matthews pounded Frank Gaffney and his lies about WMD’s and how the lies were systematically repeated before the invasion. Matthews has hated Cheney for so long it has becomes so obvious… he calls him “CHHHAINY” and gave him a lashing last night.
I don’t care what folks here at FDL and the progressive blogosphere say about Matthews I have been watching him since he started and long before anyone else in the MSM was pounding the pushers of the invasion Matthews was. He hit Kristol, Frum, Gaffney, Woolsey and other war pushers hard before the invasion. Folks who try to spin Matthews stance on the invasion were obviously not watching him then. Although he has ramped it up after it was obvious to the masses that the Bush thugs had passes to hell.
Corruption has to be stamped out before it stops shamelessly feeding on the public till.
You just know those ‘Fundraisers’ didn’t skip a beat – before the tones of their ‘End’ buttons grew faint on Blago’s ass-chewing for ’setting him up with JJJ’, they were already dialing the Lt. Governor to Mob him up with offers for the Senate Seat…