A plea deal now on the table between former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) and federal authorities includes “significant jail time,” a source told The Chicago Sun-Times on Wednesday.
“Significant jail time is now definitely a part of the deal,” the source said.
Jackson has been the target of a federal criminal probe since last year, which has been reportedly looking into his alleged misuse of campaign funds. The longtime Illinois lawmaker referenced both the probe and his ongoing health issues in his letter of resignation from Congress, which he tendered in November, despite having won re-election just days before.
Previous reports have suggested several times that a plea deal between Jackson and investigators was in the works. The latest news came a day after a Sun-Times report said the Jackson investigation had spawned a separate investigation into the finances of his wife, former Chicago Ald. Sandi Jackson.
A second source told the Sun-Times on Wednesday that “I think [Jackson’s wife] Sandi, feels like she was thrown under the bus by her husband.”
Sandi Jackson resigned her aldermanic position last month.
Eric Lach
Eric Lach is a reporter for TPM. From 2010 to 2011, he was a news writer in charge of the website’s front page. He has previously written for The Daily, NewYorker.com, GlobalPost and other publications. He can be reached at ericl(at)talkingpointsmemo.com
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