News & Events
THE SITUATION ROOM
Jesse Jackson, Jr.'s Role in Blagojevich Probe; First Meeting of Illinois Impeachment Panel; A Financial Murder
Aired December 16, 2008 - 17:00 ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
WOLF BLITZER, HOST: I'm Wolf Blitzer.
You're in THE SITUATION ROOM.
ANNOUNCER: This is CNN Headline News breaking news.
BLITZER: But first, the breaking news we're following right now on Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.
I want to bring in Gary Tuchman.
He's working this story in Springfield, Illinois -- the Illinois capital -- the state capital.
What are we learning precisely, because it's a very, very sensitive subject as all of our viewers know -- Gary?
GARY TUCHMAN, CNN NATIONAL CORRESPONDENT: Quite a surprising story, Wolf. But two sources who are close to Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. say that the congressman, for at least 10 years, has been an informant with the U.S. attorney's offices and has actually informed against Governor Rod Blagojevich -- but not in this current investigation. And that's very important to emphasize. He hasn't been an informant in this investigation.
But according to these sources, back in 2002, when Blagojevich was running for governor, it was made known to Congressman Jackson that the governor wanted $25,000 donation from local congressmen for his campaign.
At this point, Jesse Jackson's wife Sandi was up for a job as the director of the lottery commission. Well, according to our sources, Jesse Jackson, Jr. did not give the $25,000 donation and his wife did not get the job and that after Blagojevich took office as the governor of the State of Illinois in early 2003, according to these sources, the governor came up to Jesse Jackson, Jr. and said something to the effect of, "you see what $25,000 would have done?"
Well, it took three years, but Jesse Jackson, ultimately, in 2006 -- the summer of 2006 -- told the U.S. attorney's office for the Northern District of Illinois that he believed that this was an attempted shakedown -- that because he didn't give the $25,000, his wife no longer got the job.
The reason, according to these sources, that Jesse Jackson said this three years later, not right, away is because during the trial -- it's complicated. But during the trial of developer Tony Rezko -- the fraud and corruption trial against Rezko -- it came up that there were $25,000 donations repeatedly made to the governor. And that's what Jesse Jackson's sources say reminded Jesse Jackson to bring this up to authorities.
But, nevertheless, Wolf, over the last 10 years, according to these sources, Jessie Jackson, Jr. has talked to the U.S. attorney's office, given them information about all kinds of investigations, mostly local investigations in his district.
But what's clear to say, the headline of the story is it basically marks out this current governor, who is in so much trouble right now, the governor of Illinois, Governor Blagojevich -- Wolf.
BLITZER: All right, Gary, stand by, because I want to get back to you. I know you're working the story. It's a very, very sensitive story, as our viewers can appreciate, the suggestion by two sources that Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. has been working with the U.S. attorney's office for some time now as an informant in his corruption investigation.
Meanwhile, the governor is ignoring calls for his resignation, apparently intent on fighting back on all fronts. This, as a special impeachment panel is meeting right now. He's accused of trying to sell Barack Obama's Senate seat -- allegations the governor's attorney says are trumped up.
Brian Todd has been looking at this story for us.
What's the latest on this part -- Brian?
BRIAN TODD, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Well, Wolf, the vote yesterday to establish that impeachment committee was unanimous. But today the chair said they cannot start hearing from key witnesses until they get a green light from the Feds.
(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)
TODD (voice-over): The embattled governor of Illinois aiming to project business as usual.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Thank you, Madam chairman.
TODD: But at the first meeting of the state's special impeachment panel, Rod Blagojevich did not have a single defender out of 21 lawmakers who spoke.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Unfortunately, unless and until he does the right thing and resigns, we need to move forward as rapidly as possible.
TODD: But the lawmakers' timetable may depend on Patrick Fitzgerald, the criminal prosecutor.
UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Some of the people that we might have wanted to call as witnesses today, we don't think we can until we get clearance from him.
TODD: Prosecutors face a delicate balance, according to a former U.S. attorney.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: On the one hand, they obviously want to help legislators get a crook out of office. On the other hand, their responsibility is to try to put this governor behind bars. And that means they're not likely to want to turn over their witness, their evidence to a political process.
TODD: Blagojevich, through a spokesman, has denied doing anything wrong. His newly hired lawyer, Ed Genson, says the Democratic governor will not resign.
ED GENSON, ATTORNEY: I think that the case -- the case that I've seen so far is significantly exaggerated. It's just not -- it's not what people think it is.
UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Ed Genson is a trial attorney. He's not a guy who's known for pleading out any cases. So, certainly, if Rod Blagojevich is meeting with Ed Genson, that's an indication that he wants to go to trial and fight these charges.
(END VIDEO TAPE)
TODD: Now, the impeachment panel decided to wait until tomorrow to start combing through the criminal complaint so that Blagojevich's attorney, Ed Genson, can be there to represent the governor -- Wolf.
We'll see what happens.