Lavish Lifestyle of a Lawmaker Yields Federal Charges
WASHINGTON — In the span of four years starting in 2007, Jesse L. Jackson Jr., then a representative from Illinois, amassed a collection of celebrity memorabilia, furs, jewelry and furniture.
Jesse L. Jackson Jr. and his wife, Sandi Jackson, are expected to plead guilty in a case involving misuse of campaign money.
Working with an antiques dealer in Nevada and a furrier in Beverly Hills, Calif., Mr. Jackson bought a $5,000 football signed by United States presidents, two hats that once belonged to Michael Jackson — including a $4,600 fedora — and an $800 cape.
Mr. Jackson’s desire for such objects, however, prompted him to take about $750,000 directly from his campaign funds in violation of campaign finance laws, according to government documents, unraveling the career of one of the country’s best-known black politicians and the son of a famous civil rights activist.
On Friday, federal prosecutors in Washington filed charges against Mr. Jackson tied to his repeated use of campaign funds, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud and making false statements.
The charges were a formality. Mr. Jackson, a Democrat, has already agreed to plead guilty to one or more charges, though a date for him to formally accept the plea before a judge has not yet been scheduled.
He faces up to five years in prison and $250,000 in fines.
-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary
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