Chicago Area Local News

CHICAGO (CBS) ― U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) is under the microscope of a congressional ethics board, which has opened an investigation stemming former Gov. Rod Blagojevich's alleged attempts to sell President Obama's vacant U.S. Senate seat.

As CBS 2's Derrick Blakley reports, under normal circumstances, no politician wants to have an outside body investigating his integrity. But nothing about Congressman Jackson's situation is normal. He's not charged with a crime, but he's got a cloud hanging over him. This congressional probe could bring danger, or redemption.

As reporters waited outside, there was no sign of Congressman Jackson at his home Wednesday. He wasn't at his South Shore office, either. He has not spoken to the media personally about the probe about the report published by the Chicago Sun-Times, and no one came to the door when CBS 2 knocked.

But Jackson did issue a statement around noon Wednesday. "I am cooperating fully with the preliminary review being conducted by the Office of Congressional Ethics," Jackson said in the statement. "I was notified last week about the inquiry and am eager to answer any questions and provide any information to the OCE about my actions related to last year's vacant Senate seat.

Jackson continued: "As I said when the Blagojevich scandal first broke back in December, I have done nothing wrong and reject pay-to-play politics. I'm confident that this new ethics office -- which I voted in favor of creating -- will be able to conduct a fair and expeditious review and dismiss this matter."

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If you want to know how wounded Jackson might be, just ask his congressional colleague, who is talking about Jackson's political career in the past tense.

"It's so unfortunate because I think Jesse Jackson Jr. had one of the most promising political careers in the country," said U.S. Rep. Danny Davis (D-Ill).

As CBS 2's Mai Martinez reports the Office of Congressional Ethics, formed just last year, voted in late March to conduct a "preliminary review," of actions surrounding Jackson's bid to be appointed to the Senate seat, according to documents received by parties involved in the case. The committee launched the action Thursday — the same day Blagojevich was indicted on corruption charges.

The panel has asked parties in the Blagojevich case — including his former gubernatorial staff and campaign staff — to turn over any documents, e-mails, or other correspondence involving Jackson Jr. and his campaign staff, Jackson's brother, Jonathan, and political fund-raisers Raghuveer Nayak and Rajinder Bedi, lawyers close to the probe told the Sun-Times. The request for information is from June of last year through Dec. 31, 2008.

Nayak, Bedi and Jonathan Jackson attended a Dec. 6 fundraiser hosted by the Indian community for Friends of Blagojevich. People attending the event have told the Sun-Times that discussions about future fundraising for Congressman Jackson's Senate candidacy took place at the function.

Jesse Jackson Jr. has not been accused of wrongdoing in the Blagojevich case. He was referred to as "Candidate A" in the indictment of Blagojevich and was recently interviewed by the feds. Blagojevich believed he would be paid $1.5 million through Jackson Jr. "emissaries" if he named Jackson to the Senate seat, according to the federal charges. But Blagojevich didn't.

"Rev. Jackson was not appointed," Rep. Davis said. "He didn't get appointed. I think had the allegations and assertions been true, he would have been Sen. Jackson."

A federal criminal complaint alleges that the ex-governor told his brother in a recorded call to meet with Nayak, referred to as "Individual D," to ask about giving money up front for Jackson's appointment. The next day the ex-governor told his own brother to "undo that [Nayak] thing" after reports surfaced that the feds could be recording conversations, according to the criminal complaint against Blagojevich.

Nayak has since been in discussions with federal investigators.

The ethics panel typically investigates a matter for 30 days before making a recommendation to the House members' chief ethics panel, the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. That committee can take action, refuse action or continue the probe.

In the past, Jackson Jr. has denied that he ever negotiated with Blagojevich about the open Senate seat.

"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," Jackson said a few days after Blagojevich was dragged from his house in handcuffs.

But as it is, CBS 2 Legal Analyst Irv Miller says Jackson's best legal strategy is to assist investigators in every way possible.

"Cooperate, cooperate, cooperate. Answer all questions. Be available for any panel that wants to talk to you, including the ethics panel or the U.S. Attorney's office," Miller said, "because my advice to you is if you didn't do anything wrong, there's nothing to hide."

CBS 2's calls to the Office of Congressional Ethics about the matter have not been returned.

But earlier, Leo Wise, who heads the Office of Congressional Ethics, told the Sun-Times he could not confirm or deny the existence of any investigation. His non-partisan panel, made up of private citizens, was created by the House last year to review allegations against its members. Judge Abner Mikva is among those on the panel.

"We're a fact-gathering, investigative entity," Wise said. Wise explained that the panel does not have subpoena abilities but the House dictated powers allowing it to interview witnesses and request documents.

The congressional probe could be a vehicle for Jackson to clear his name.

"Down the road, this could be something that benefits him," Miller said.

As for Congressman Jackson's future, potential opponents smell blood in the water, and are examining the possibility of running against him.

CBS 2's Derrick Blakley, Mai Martinez and the STNG Wire contributed to this report.

(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)

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