Jackson Has His Day on the Hill

The hallway in the House office building was mobbed: Was it President Bush? Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger? No, it was none other than Michael Jackson, the self-styled “king of pop,” who said he had come to the nation’s capital to lobby lawmakers on a pet cause: combating AIDS in Africa.

But as the entertainer appeared on Capitol Hill, a grand jury in Santa Barbara County was considering whether he should be tried on child molestation charges -- prompting usually publicity-hungry politicians to steer clear of him.

Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) was one of the few who agreed to see Jackson, inviting him Wednesday to her office, where he met with several lawmakers and African ambassadors. The day before, he met about a dozen legislators in the office of Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.).

On Tuesday, his first day on the Hill, Jackson dressed conservatively, in a dark suit and white shirt. On Wednesday, he reverted to full pop-star mode -- a red satin shirt with intricate embroidery and blue-and-silver sequined sergeant’s stripes on both sleeves. Unlike many of his previous public appearances, he did not wear a surgical mask.

At a news conference Wednesday outside Jackson Lee’s office, Jackson did not speak to reporters, although he did clap loudly when his intended tour of Africa was promoted. He also flashed a peace sign. And while Jackson Lee was discussing the seriousness of the AIDS problem in Africa, Jackson indicated, by his hand gestures, that he liked a fan’s hat.

Some lawmakers have said they believed that Jackson’s visit to Capitol Hill was designed to divert attention from his legal problems. As a result, the usual gathering of lawmakers eager to have their picture taken with a celebrity was nowhere in sight.

But Jackson Lee told NBC’s “Today” show that the entertainer’s legal problems notwithstanding, “this building, this House, this Congress, is open to everyone.”

Jackson’s celebrity status didn’t help him avoid some of the inconveniences that ordinary visitors to Capitol Hill experience: He had to go through the metal detector, and he was forced to cool his heels in congressional offices while lawmakers left to vote.

Fattah said Jackson was “well received.” No mention was made of the court case, the congressman added.

Rep. Bobby L. Rush (D-Ill.), who met with Jackson on Tuesday and Wednesday, said in an interview: “This is still a nation of laws. He’s innocent until proven guilty.”

Jackson appeared to be grateful for the support, hugging Rush during the news conference Wednesday.

Rep. Elijah E. Cummings (D-Md.), chairman of the Congressional Black Caucus, denied that the caucus snubbed Jackson. “We are some pretty busy people,” he said in an interview, noting that a recent meeting with Bush drew only about half of the caucus’ 39 members.

Cummings, a former criminal defense lawyer, said he would not question Jackson’s motives for seeking the meeting. “I have to take him at his word,” he said. Jackson is to receive an award tonight, honoring his humanitarian work in Africa, from the African Ambassadors’ Spouses Assn.

Jackson, 45, is charged with seven felony counts of child molestation and two counts of providing an intoxicant to a minor with the intent to molest. He is free on $3-million bail and has described the accusation as a “big lie” designed to extort money from him.

Although it certainly wasn’t the biggest star-sighting ever on Capitol Hill, Jackson’s appearance was enough of a sensation to make local newscasts and attract a number of fans.

Not everyone was impressed, though. “All this for an aging pop star,” one man in the crowd said.

Times staff writer Ashleigh Collins contributed to this report.