Jackson Jr. denies he was involved in scheme
Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. flatly denies he and his brother were involved in a scheme to get him a Senate seat in a deal with scandal-tainted Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.
The remarks in an interview with The Associated Press Friday came on the heels of a Chicago Tribune report that, citing unnamed sources, said businessman Raghuveer Nayak and Blagojevich aide Rajinder Bedi told attendees at an Oct. 31 meeting they needed to raise $1 million for the governor to ensure Jackson's appointment. The report depicts Jackson's brother Jonathan as an active participant.
"Raghu said he needed to raise a million for Rod to make sure Jesse got the seat," an unidentified source who attended the meeting told the Tribune. Blagojevich also attended the meeting, which was sponsored by Nayak, an Oak Brook businessman.
The congressman said Friday "to an absolute certainty" that his brother was not involved in any scheming or wrongdoing.
"He did not serve as an emissary of mine," Jesse Jackson Jr. said of his brother. "It is unfortunate that every appearance the governor makes and meeting he has taints everyone in attendance."
Messages left at a listing for Raghuveer Nayak in Oak Brook and on a cell phone for Rajinder Bedi were not immediately returned Friday.
Blagojevich was arrested Tuesday on federal corruption charges that allege, among other things, a brazen scheme to put Obama's U.S. Senate seat up for sale.
According to the FBI complaint, the Oct. 31 meeting took place the same day federal prosecutors intercepted a conversation in which Blagojevich claims he'd been approached by a representative for an unidentified "Senate Candidate 5" who offered cash in exchange for the Senate seat.
On Wednesday, it was revealed Jackson was the candidate.
"We were approached 'pay to play,'" Blagojevich said in the call. The candidate would raise $500,000 for Blagojevich, and an emissary would raise an additional $1 million, according to the conversation.
Jackson spokesman Rick Bryant told the Tribune that while Jackson discussed the Senate seat with Nayak, he never asked him to do anything.
Nayak, 54, has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars for Blagojevich and also is close to the Jackson family. Bedi also has been a Blagojevich fundraiser.
The Oct. 31 meeting led to a Blagojevich fundraiser held Saturday that was co-sponsored by Nayak. The governor attended, as did Jackson's brother, who went into business with Nayak several years ago, according to the newspaper report.
Two days later, Jackson met with Blagojevich to discuss the Senate seat, a meeting both were reported to have left looking "elated."
Jackson said Friday he was elated "because the governor did tell me I was going to get a second meeting, and I was elated about that."
"I was happy to plead my case. I was proud of my record of accomplishments," he said. "It was clear from reading the complaint, my candidacy never had a chance under his process."