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Rod Blagojevich: September 2009

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Ethics Committee Probing Jackson Jr., Waters, Graves

Zachary Roth | September 16, 2009, 12:53PM

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL)

The House Ethics committee has revealed that it's conducting separate inquiries into three lawmakers: Reps. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL), Maxine Waters (D-CA), and Sam Graves (R-MO).

• In the case of Jackson, the committee said in a statement that it's looking into "whether Representative Jesse Jackson Jr., or an agent of Representative Jackson, may have offered to raise funds for then-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich in return for the appointment of Representative Jackson to the Illinois Senate seat." In a phone conversation that was recorded by prosecutors, Blago said that a staff person for Jackson offered $1 million in campaign contributions in return for appointing Jackson to the seat.

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Topics: Bailout, Barack Obama, Jesse Jackson Jr., Justice Department, Maxine Waters, Rod Blagojevich, Sam Graves

Rod Blagojevich

Indicted Blago Fundraiser Dead In Apparent Suicide

Zachary Roth | September 14, 2009, 11:14AM

Christopher Kelly

The former top fundraiser for Rod Blagojevich died over the weekend in an apparent suicide.

Chris Kelly was found Friday night slumped over the wheel of his black Cadillac Escalade in a lumber yard in suburban Country Club Hills outside Chicago. Drugs were found in the vehicle. Kelly died Saturday morning in a Chicago hospital.

Kelly, a high-stakes gambler, faced eight years in prison for hiding income that he used to pay gambling debts, and for participating in an $8.5 million fraud involving roofing work on airline hangars at O'Hare International Airport. He was also facing trial for his role in the alleged pay-for-play corruption connected to Blagojevich, the former Illinois governor.