Apr 13, 2009 5:53 pm US/Central
Source: Fundraiser For Rep. Jackson Offered $5M
Man Claiming To Represent Congressman Reportedly Offered Money To Blagojevich Campaign
CHICAGO (CBS) ―
-
-
U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (File)
CBS
A man claiming to act for U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) reportedly made an offer for $5 million in campaign cash for Gov. Rod Blagojevich in exchange for an appointment to the U.S. Senate, a source told CBS 2.
A source confirmed a published report saying the man who claimed to be Jackson's representative made the offer. The $5 million figure is much higher than previous reports have stated.
The
Chicago Sun-Times reported that political fundraisers Raghuveer Nayak and Rajinder Bedi approached the governor's team last fall.
Jackson has acknowledged speaking with Nayak, but maintains that Nayak was not acting on his behalf. Jackson also maintains that he did nothing illegal.
Nayak is an Indian-American businessman who raised money for Blagojevich, and who also wanted Blagojevich to appoint Jackson to the U.S. Senate seat once held by Barack Obama. Just days before the former governor's arrest, Nayak co-hosted a fundraiser at which Blagojevich spoke with Congressman Jackson's wealthy brother, Jonathan Jackson.
Nayak has reportedly asked federal prosecutors for immunity from criminal prosecution, in exchange for cooperating with investigators.
When CBS 2 visited the first of Nayak's profitable chains of surgery centers Monday, a man came to the door, but would not discuss the case.
Last week,
a report surfaced that Jackson is under investigation by a congressional ethics board in regard to Blagojevich's attempt to sell Obama's vacant Senate seat.
And now, as CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports, influential Congressman Mark Kirk is predicting that Jackson Jr. will soon face the full House Ethics Committee.
An advisory panel is already conducting a preliminary review of Jackson's dealings with Blagojevich.
Kirk said too many questions remain in the wake of last week's indictment, including whether Rep. Jackson and his associates really did promise Blagojevich up to $5 million, as sources claim they did last fall while lobbying for Jackson to be appointed to President Obama's old U.S. Senate seat.
"I suspect this is so high-profile, this will go to the Ethics Committee. And Rep. Jackson will be able to defend himself," Kirk said.
But Illinois's senior senator, the number two man in that chamber, cautioned against leaping to any conclusion in the House ethics investigations of Rep. Jackson or the Senate Ethics Committee's investigation of Sen. Roland Burris.
"I think they're doing the appropriate thing, asking all the right questions," Durbin said.
"We'll have an unending saga of the trial of Rod Blagojevich next year, and God knows where that will take us," Kirk said.
Kirk and Jackson Jr. are the only two Illinoisans on the powerful Appropriations Committee. They've worked together on some issues and been at odds on others, notably the multi-billion dollar expansion of O'Hare Airport.
Blagojevich will be arraigned Tuesday morning.
CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery contributed to this report.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
Jewish Celebrities
Click to enlarge
Stumble It!
