Illinois Gov Told Jesse Jackson Jr. 6 Years Ago that His Wife Didn’t Get Lottery Job Because He Refused To Donate $25,000 to Campaign

Jesse Jackson Jr/official photo
Jesse Jackson Jr/official photo

It’s no surprise that Gov. Blagojevich may have solicited financial favors long before this latest episode.  But the real news here is that Jesse Jackson also shared information about public corruption with feds in the past several years, according to reports out of Chicago.

By Don Babwin
Associated Press
CHICAGO — Shortly after his 2002 election, Gov. Rod Blagojevich told Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. he didn’t appoint the congressman’s wife as lottery director because he had refused him a $25,000 campaign donation, a person familiar with the conversation told The Associated Press on Tuesday.
“Blagojevich went out of his way to say, ‘You know I was considering your wife for the lottery job and the $25,000 you didn’t give me? That’s why she’s not getting the job,'” the person said, speaking on condition of anonymity because of the ongoing federal investigation.
Jackson’s name has played prominently ever since Blagojevich was arrested last week on corruption charges, including allegations that he tried to sell or trade President-elect Barack Obama’s vacant Senate seat for personal gain.
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