Jackson acknowledges ethics probe

Rep. Jesse L. Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) confirmed Wednesday that he is the subject of a preliminary inquiry from a congressional ethics board looking into his attempts to be appointed to the Senate seat vacated by President Obama.

In addition, federal authorities in Illinois have questioned an aide to former Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich about a fundraiser that a Jackson associate held for the Democratic governor in December.

Blagojevich, who had the power to appoint Obama’s successor, faces federal corruption charges, including the accusation that he tried to sell the Senate seat. He has been impeached and removed from office. He was indicted last week.

In Illinois, a federal grand jury investigating Blagojevich’s administration is expected to hear testimony about the fundraising in coming weeks, sources told the Tribune.

Federal prosecutors allege that Blagojevich was considering naming Jackson to the Senate in return for a Jackson associate’s offer of $1.5 million in campaign cash.

Covert recordings of Blagojevich last fall allegedly captured the then-governor suddenly going from cold to hot on whether to appoint Jackson. Prosecutors allege that Blagojevich told aides he had been promised something tangible and immediate to choose the congressman -- money -- and that he was leaning toward doing so.

Prosecutors said they arrested Blagojevich on Dec. 9 to stop a “crime spree” including the activities related to the Senate appointment.

Authorities recently interviewed Jackson as part of the investigation, and the congressional ethics panel has begun an inquiry of his actions.

In Washington, Jackson told the Associated Press that he was cooperating with a review by the Office of Congressional Ethics in connection with his interactions with Blagojevich.

“As I said when the Blagojevich scandal first broke back in December, I have done nothing wrong and reject pay-to-play politics,” Jackson said in a statement. “I’m confident that this new ethics office -- which I voted in favor of creating -- will be able to conduct a fair and expeditious review and dismiss this matter.”

Jackson, the son of civil rights activist Rev. Jesse Jackson, has previously acknowledged he was “Senate Candidate A” in Blagojevich’s criminal complaint.

According to the complaint, Jackson was one of several candidates to whom authorities allege Blagojevich tried to shop the Senate seat. Jackson’s supporters were willing to raise $1.5 million for Blagojevich if he picked the congressman, the filing alleges.

The Office of Congressional Ethics is a bipartisan panel made up of non-lawmakers who review and investigate possible ethics violations by House members. The board can refer cases to the House Ethics Committee.

The Tribune reported earlier that businessmen with ties to Blagojevich and Jackson met in late October to discuss fundraising in support of Jackson’s bid for the seat. Those in attendance discussed raising as much as $1 million, sources said.

The indictment alleges that Blagojevich talked to his brother Robert, the head of his campaign fund, about contacting a Jackson associate to raise money for the governor.

Raghuveer P. Nayak, a major supporter of both Blagojevich and Jackson, later sponsored a fundraiser for the governor.

Attendees said the fundraiser was held in Elmhurst, Ill., on the Saturday before Blagojevich’s arrest. Blagojevich attended, as did Jackson’s brother, Jonathan, sources said. Jonathan Jackson was once in business with Nayak.

Nayak is cooperating with the federal investigation, sources said, as is John Harris, the ex-governor’s chief of staff. Harris was arrested Dec. 9, the same day as Blagojevich, on similar charges.

After Blagojevich’s arrest, but before he was ousted from office, he appointed Roland Burris to the Senate.