Frugal Café Blog Zone

Posted By Vicki McClure Davidson on September 22, 2010

Political Scandal: Illinois state senator Jesse Jackson, Jr. and his alleged mistress, cocktail waitress/swimsuit model Giovana Huidobro... new evidence unearthed about Senate seat bid and Blago connection

This breaking scandal in Illinois has it all for a steamy 1940s film noir… corruption, sex, politics, infidelity, power, betrayal, deception, greed, millions of dollars. Throw in some strategic shadows and Veronica Lake and you’d have a potential classic.

Illinois Sen. Jesse Jackson, Jr. has denied any wrongdoing.

But the evidence against him is starting to mount. And his political future is fast rushing down the storm sewer.

What in the world were you thinking, Jesse?

From Chicago Sun-Times, Fund-raiser: Jesse Jackson Jr. behind $6M Senate-seat scheme — Feds had questions about Senate-seat deal and flights for a Jackson acquaintance:

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. directed a major political fund-raiser to offer former Gov. Rod Blagojevich millions of dollars in campaign cash in return for an appointment to the U.S. Senate, sources said the fund-raiser has told federal authorities.

The allegation by Oak Brook businessman Raghuveer Nayak counters public statements made as recently as last week by Jackson that he never authorized any deal to attempt to buy the Senate seat.

Nayak also told authorities he paid for two airline trips for a “social acquaintance” of the Democratic congressman at Jackson’s request, raising more potential ethical and political problems for Jackson.

The FBI interviewed that acquaintance — a Washington, D.C., restaurant hostess named Giovana Huidobro — about a year ago as part of its corruption probe of Blagojevich. Authorities were trying to determine whether Jackson had asked Nayak to offer Blagojevich campaign cash in exchange for the then-governor appointing Jackson to the seat once held by President Obama, according to sources with knowledge of the probe.

Huidobro, Jackson and Nayak all dined together on Oct. 8, 2008 — the same day that Nayak has told authorities he had a key conversation with Jackson about the Senate appointment, sources said. The three then ended up at Ozio, the restaurant and club where Huidobro works and where Jackson has held fund-raisers.

Huidobro told authorities she knew nothing of Jackson’s political dealings regarding the Senate seat, according to sources. She also said she flew to Chicago on several occasions at Jackson’s request and that Jackson sometimes reimbursed her for her travels.

Nayak told the FBI that he paid for two airline trips for Huidobro from Washington to Chicago in 2008.

A spokesman for Jackson declined to comment on Monday.

Reached Tuesday on his cell phone, Jackson said: “I have nothing to say. Call my office. Have a good day.”

Pressed about Huidobro, the congressman again said, “I have nothing to say.”

Jackson does not appear to have reported the flights for Huidobro as a gift on his House financial-disclosure statement, and it’s unclear whether he violated any ethics or fund-raising laws by not doing so.

He was once considered a potential presidential candidate and now is discussing a bid to succeed Mayor Daley. His wife, Ald. Sandi Jackson (7th), also has been mentioned as a possible mayoral candidate, though she downplayed her chances of running during a jobs rally she attended Monday.

In a radio interview about the mayor’s race last week, Jackson challenged federal prosecutors to “bring it on” if they have evidence he was a conspirator in Blagojevich’s corruption case.

The Sun-Times has been investigating the new allegations since the beginning of the year.

Nayak, however, has told investigators a different story.

Before he dined with Huidobro and Jackson on Oct. 8, 2008, Nayak said he had a critical conversation with the congressman about the seat while the two were alone. Nayak, also a former Blagojevich fund-raiser, said that Jackson asked him to tell Blagojevich that if the then-governor appointed Jackson to the U.S. Senate, Chicago’s Indian community would raise $1 million for Blagojevich and — after Jackson was appointed — Jackson would raise $5 million for the then-governor.

The Oak Brook businessman had been in Washington for a bill signing regarding U.S.-India relations. Jackson picked up Nayak from the White House, where they posed for a picture together. The photo was entered into evidence during Blagojevich’s summer trial.

The FBI’s August 2009 interview with Huidobro came after Nayak, who was cooperating with authorities, submitted credit card bills to show he twice purchased airline tickets to fly her from Washington to Chicago, in October and December of 2008, sources said.

In a March 2009 FBI interview, Jackson described Huidobro as a “social acquaintance,” sources said. Jackson also acknowledged to authorities he met with Nayak on Oct. 8, 2008, but he told federal agents he never authorized Nayak to make any offer to Blagojevich regarding the Senate seat.

In a brief telephone interview early last week, Huidobro replied “How did you get my name?” when asked about Jackson, Nayak, the Senate seat and trips to Chicago. She told a reporter she would call later on but hasn’t returned calls since.

This interview with Jackson in connection to the Blago scandal was conducted in December 2008… what a smooth operator. I almost believed him. Almost.

ABC News Interview: Jesse Jackson Jr. Denies Offering Payment for U.S. Senate Seat | December 2008

Hot Air weighs in on Jackson… Fundraiser: Jesse Jackson Jr offered Blagojevich millions for Obama’s Senate seat:

This would be the same Jesse Jackson Jr who was first identified almost two years ago in connection with pay for play vis-a-vis the appointment. A direct quote from the time: “It is impossible for someone on my behalf to have a conversation that would suggest any type of quid pro quo or any payments or offers. An impossibility to an absolute certainty.” Not only that, but he then turned around and insisted — unconvincingly — that he was actually an informant in the case helping the feds to stamp out corruption. Now this.

Oh, before I forget — he was also co-chair of Obama’s national presidential campaign. Something to bear in mind in case this story breaks wide open and the White House suddenly can’t remember his name.

Bob Belvedere at The Camp of the Saints cracks me up… Keep Ho Alive:

Look, I know that every single member of the House who voted for radical Leftists bills like Obamacare deserves to go down in utter and total ignominious defeat this November. They all deserve to burn for Eternity in the flame pits of Hell. However, some not only deserve this, but to have inflicted upon them the greater punishments of having to be the meat in a naked sandwich where the bread is Rosie O’Donnell and Michael Moore. These are the hucksters and baiters of all types who have spent years playing on the emotions of groups such as minorities and women and homosexuals and every other group the Bolshes have courted and enslaved through outright lies and deceptions.

One of these is Jesse Jackson, Jr., son of the bastard-making, MLK-exploiting, corporate shakedown artist Rev. Jesse Jackson. He has enjoyed a career of working with his father to blackmail companies like Budweiser and race hustle.

Junior may have gone too far in his actions in the sordid Blagojevich affair…

Best Jackson scandal blog title award goes to Booker Rising: Jesse Jackson Jr. Can Forget About Becoming Chicago’s Mayor….:

Hat tip to DarkStar for highlighting this story on his blog. From NBC Chicago: “Jesse Jackson Jr. doesn’t deny involvement with a Washington D.C. based restaurant hostess who was named this morning in a Sun-Times story about his alleged attempt to buy an appointment to President Obama’s former Senate seat. Jackson Jr. allegedly had a relationship with Giovana Huidobro, a restaurant hostess and former model whose pictures can be seen here, and asked that fund-raiser Raghuveer Nayak pay for her to be flown from D.C. to Chicago on at least two occasions.”

The article continues about the brewing scandal: “‘The reference to a social acquaintance is a personal and private matter between me and my wife that was handled some time ago.’ Jackson Jr. said in a statement. ‘I ask that you respect our privacy.’ Giovana Huidobro was allegedly present at a D.C. meeting between Jackson Jr. and Nayak in 2008, when the two allegedly discussed a scheme to funnel $6 million in fund-raising dollars to Rod Blagojevich. While the details about Huidobro are new, the statement [by Rep. Jackson Jr.] claims that the fund raising allegations are simply rehashed story.”

[...]

It’s long been rumored here in Chicago that Jesse Jackson Jr. creeps on his black wife with non-black women. So this news is no surprise. Junior can forget about a mayoral run thought. First, there’s the whole Blago possible-seat-buying thing. Now this news, which many black women (who comprise the majority of black voters) ain’t gonna like. Black female voters might overlook a black jumpoff (although they won’t approve). But a non-black one, a chick who he had flown to service him in D.C.? Uh-uh. The local media is now calling her “Jesse’s Girl”, like the 1980s song LOL. This news sooooooo has Rahm Emanuel’s oppo research team’s hands all over it…

From Libertarian Republican, Jesse Jackson Jr. scandal may lead to another GOP pick up: Meet Republican Isaac Hayes for Congress:

A major scandal has erupted out of Chicago. In brief, Jesse Jackson Jr. Democrat Congressman for Illinois Dist. 2 is alleged to have offered $6 million in pay-for-play to former Governor Rod Blagojevich in exchange for the Obama Senate seat. The individual making the allegation is a Democrat fundraiser from Chicago. It is also alleged that this fundraiser paid for two roundtrip flights for a cocktail waitress/swimsuit model mistress of Jackson’s, from D.C. to Chicago.

From NBC Chicago, Ward Room, Jackson Jr. Behind $6M Blagojevich Bribe: Fund-raiser:

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. asked a political fund-raiser to offer then Gov. Rod Blagojevich $6 million dollars in exchange for an appointment to President Obama’s former Senate seat — and had the fund-raiser pay for two airline trips for a blonde “social acquaintance” — the fund-raiser told federal authorities.

Businessman Raghuveer Nayak ‘s allegations, first reported by the Sun-Times, counter Jackson Jr.’s public statements that he never authorized any deals to buy the Senate seat.

Nayak says Jackson instructed him to offer Blagojevich as much as $6 million for the seat — $1 million from the Indian community and $5 million from a yet-to-be-held fund raiser that Jackson Jr. would organize.

From Doug Ross @ Journal, How much is a Senate seat worth? For a member of Nancy Pelosi’s ‘Most Ethical Congress Ever’, oh, about $6 million:

Democrats: if they weren’t in power, they’d make a great crime drama

‘Scum’ is too kind a word.

[...]

Just when you think the Democrats have hit a new ethical low — after Rangel, Waters, Geithner, Mollohan, Feinstein, Reid, Frank and Dodd, to name but a few — they break out the bulldozers and dig a new sub-basement.

From Chicago Tribune, Jackson hit with new allegations about Senate bid — Fundraiser says he flew ‘social acquaintance’ to Chicago at congressman’s request:

U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.’s long-held desire to become mayor of Chicago ran smack into the controversy over his last hot pursuit of a political prize when he was forced Tuesday again to deny allegations that he sought to buy a U.S. Senate seat.

Adding to the troubles are revelations that a longtime political supporter told federal investigators he paid to fly a female “social acquaintance” of Jackson’s to Chicago at the congressman’s request.

Jackson issued a written apology to voters that lacked specifics about the woman but acknowledged he disappointed some supporters. His wife, Ald. Sandi Jackson, issued her own statement, saying the couple had for months been trying to deal quietly with the “painful and unfortunate situation.”

Need to add Jackson to Conservative Hideout 2.0′s list… Useful Idiot of the Month Poll: September 2010.

Categories: Government, Law & Constitution, Social and Political Climate
Tags: Ald. Sandi Jackson, Barack Obama, blackmail, Blago, bribe, Chicago, Chicago politics, Congress, congressman, Democrat, film noir, fundraiser, Giovana Huidobro, Giovanna Huidobro, Gov. Rod Blagojevich, Illinois, infidelity, Jackson affair, Jackson scandal, Jesse Jackson, Jesse Jackson Jr, Jesse Jackson Jr affair, Jesse Jackson Jr scandal, Jesse Jackson scandal, mayor, Obama, pay for play, political, political scandal, politician, politics, Pres. Obama, Raghuveer Nayak, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr, Rod Blagojevich, Sandi Jackson, scandal, Senate, Senate seat, Senate seat bid, sex, sex scandal, Veronica Lake, Washington DC