ABC News is reporting that Rep. Jesse Jackson is “Senate Candidate 5”. The report is attributed to “federal law enforcement sources.”
The charging documents in the Rod Blagojevich case quote the governor telling an aide that an “emissary” from Candidate 5 contacted him and proposed a “pay to play” arrangement in regard to the US Senate seat left open by Barack Obama, which Blagojevich has the authority to fill.
The governor also says he thinks he might be able to get something “tangible, up front” from Candidate 5 in return for the appointment.
Jackson Jr. said this morning he was contacted by federal prosecutors who “asked me to come and share with them my insights and thoughts about the selection process.”
Asked whether he was Candidate 5, Jackson Jr. said “I don’t know,” but added that he had been told he was not a target of the investigation.
We suggested yesterday that Jackson Jr. might be Candidate 5.