WASHINGTON - The House ethics committee said yesterday that it will put off for now an expanded investigation into whether Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. or his representatives tried to buy President Obama’s former Senate seat.
The committee revealed that the deferred investigation now includes allegations that Representative Jackson, a Democrat, improperly used his staff in Washington and Chicago to mount a public campaign to secure the Senate seat.
The committee acted at the behest of US prosecutors who already are investigating former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich. The panel normally defers investigations when requested by law enforcement.
The committee is looking into Jackson’s interactions with Blagojevich, who has been indicted on corruption charges, including alleged attempts to sell the seat now held by Democratic Senator Roland Burris.
According to a criminal complaint, Jackson was one of several candidates to whom Blagojevich tried to shop the seat. Jackson’s supporters were willing to raise $1.5 million for Blagojevich if he picked the congressman.
The congressman says he did nothing wrong.
