Judge Sentences Jesse Jackson Jr. To 30 Months In Prison

[Purveyor]

Source: Chicago Tribune

WASHINGTON – Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. was sentenced today to 30 months in prison plus three years of supervised release for misspending about $750,000 in campaign funds.

His wife, Sandi, a former Chicago alderman, is expected to be sentenced within minutes on a related charge.

Both Jacksons wept in court as they addressed the judge before sentencing.

Jackson Jr. apologized for his crimes and expressed special regrets to his mother and father.

Read more: http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/breaking/chi-jesse-jackson-jr-sentence-20130814,0,6369649.story

[dkf]

1. Wow I didn't realize it was so much $. Sad.

[branford]

4. I'm not saddened for them, I'm offended.

Both Rep. Jackson and his wife knew what they were doing was illegal. They apparently did not care that many hard-working people sacrificed to donate to his campaign chest because they believed in Jackson.

I do not care if a corrupt politician is a D or R, they should be punished to the fullest extent of the law. He did not steal the money for some noble or desperate purpose, but rather to live a more luxurious lifestyle. That campaign money could have gone to other Democrats that are actually trying to make a difference.

In my opinion, his sentence reflects a level of mercy and compassion that is not deserved.

I'm only sorry for the Jackson children, who will likely lose both parents to prison for years because of their selfishness.

[mopinko]

7. i do believe he is bipolar, tho, and bp's

frequently get into trouble with money. part of the disease.
fwiw, i think pops is, too, which is a double whammy to be raised by a bp in denial.

i don't usually approve of this sort of armchair psychopop stuff, but i live here, and have watched pops for a long time.

can't wait for the day when psyche dx is as easy as a blood test.

[branford]

9. Was both Rep. Jackson and his wife bi-polar?

Most people with mental illness can still differentiate between right and wrong. If Rep. could not ably make this distinction he should have resigned his congressional seat and sought treatment. Also, the theft by both Jackson and his wife was not a one-time manic incident, but a course of conduct over some time. A single failing due to an unknown mental illness is deserving of pity. The Jackson fiasco easily crossed the line to knowing, voluntary and repeated criminal conduct.

[TBF]

12. The thing with mental illness is that often spouses

or family members may see that something is off but not realize how bad it is. They are too close.

He engaged in this behavior and probably downplayed/rationalized what he was doing - she got sucked in. We have no idea if she put up a fight or tried to influence him ... she may well have in private but we'll never know because she won't testify against him.

I had a little experience working in a psychiatric hospital for a couple of years when I was younger (part-time job) - learned a lot there.

The sentence seems fair and I hope they both take advantage of counseling (and whatever meds he needs).

Flashbacks to the Edwards saga ... really felt sorry for the small donors in that situation as well.

[mopinko]

22. mental illness goes on and on. it's not a single manic incidence.

and public life feeds the manic side.

just answer this question for me-
should culpability and penalty be at all attenuated by neurological deficit?
should a developmentally disabled person face the same penalty for a crime of opportunity as a mensa member?
how about someone with traumatic brain injury?
explain to me this line you have drawn.

[branford]

25. There is no bright line, these determinations should be made by the judge in sentencing.

The law already correctly limits culpability when a defendant cannot truly appreciate right or wrong or the nature of his or her actions. There are absolutely no such allegations in the Jackson saga.

Did Rep. Jackson, over the long course of time his crimes occurred realize that his actions were both morally wrong and undeniably illegal? He admits to both.

Also, Rep. Jackson's wife, who does not allegedly suffer from mental illness, jointly participated in the illegal conduct. She could have stopped it any time.

The real victims in this case are Jackson's campaign donors, supporters and american people.

If Jackson truly suffers from a mental illness, I sincerely hopes he get the treatment he so badly needs both during his term of incarceration and thereafter. I also note that his sentence under the Federal Guidelines could have been quite severe, and the prosecution sought 4-7 years in prison. His sentence of 2.5 years was quite merciful. His wife's one year sentence even more so. His mental illness, despite lack of any expert testimony proving any disorder, clearly mitigated his sentence.

I doubt many of the very poor constituents in Jackson's former congressional district, who suffer far more severe mental illnesses, and who are charged with crimes, receive even a fraction of the tender care, mercy and compassion that Jackson and his wife received, in the criminal justice system.

[kelliekat44]

24. I agree with you on all but one point. I am not able to judge what level of mercy and/or

compassion is "deserved" by or for anyone.

[Spitfire of ATJ]

2. Just for fun, let's have him share a cell with Michelle Bachmann.

[tofuandbeer]

10. +1

[WatchWhatISay]

13. That would be cruel and unusual punishment

I despise his sense of entitlement, but even I would not be that sadistic to him

[dawn frenzy adams]

29. I don't think it's a sense of entitlement. It's about losing focus on what is really important.

We're not talking about Tagg Romney here. Jackson was brought up in a household were the family received death threats everyday. They were subjected to Hoover's counter intelligence programs. The dad Jackson, though he preaches in the loud baptist tradition, is not a fancy dresser, nor does he wear jewelry. Obviously sonny is a bit shallow.

It's rather sad that this has happened. His father risked his life so sonny would receive more opportunities. Civil rights is not a lucrative business. Martin Luther King, Malcolm X, and Rosa Parks, all died basically broke. I was hoping the best for Jesse Jackson and his family. However, I can't escape that this family has been in the government cross-hairs for some time.

[WatchWhatISay]

33. I am not referring to a rich kids sense of entitlement

But a politicians sense of entitlement. That is what got him into trouble.

[msanthrope]

18. That would be torture. nt

[mindwalker_i]

3. We prosecute people for that?

Oh wait, he's a democrat.

Probably doesn't help that he's black.

[mopinko]

5. ++++

chump change in illinois politics.

[branford]

6. He admitted to stealing over $750,000 in campaign money to live like the most selfish of the 1%.

Does it really matter if he black, white or purple? Prison is perfectly appropriate.

[mindwalker_i]

8. I'm not saying he shouldn't be punished for breaking the law

I'm just saying I wish the law was applied AT ALL to other people, let alone evenly, to Republicans. The bankers don't go to jail even when we find they STOLE houses from people, Bush didn't even get a slap on the wrist for torturing people, hell, Tom Delay is probably never going to serve and will end up back in power rather soon.

Yet the Democrat gets years for misspending money. And where's Bachman, as someone already pointed out?

And what about those dudes smoking weed?

Snowden, Manning?

Yeah, we're a nation of laws, but those laws aren't what we think they are. They're like, "thou shalt not have money or power if you're black," or "everyone can vote, as long as they vote Republican."

[branford]

11. I certainly understand your anger, but Jackson and his wife did not "misspend money."

First, I didn't mean to suggest that you thought Jackson and his wife did not deserve punishment.

However, I do not see any evidence to suggest that the Jacksons are being treated unfairly, or more severely, due to race. In fact, many legal analysts suggest his treatment and sentence may be more lenient due to his family connections.

The simple fact is that they both knowingly STOLE campaign money to buy luxury goods and live an undeserved lifestyle just like many of the bankers whom you, quite correctly, criticize. Jackson represents a poor district. Many of those stolen campaign donations were from poor people who sacrificed because they believed in Rep. Jackson and thought he would represent their interests in Congress. The Jacksons are not victims. The people in his district, however, most certainly deserved better.

[mindwalker_i]

15. Absolutely

Now get Bachmann in there el pronto! And what was her name? O'donnell?

There are way too many congress critters who are there, not to run the country better, not to make it fair, but just to enrich themselves and their friends. The least offensive version are the Republicans who funnel taxpayer money to millitary contractors to tanks that the army doesn't need, in order to get some portion of that back as campaign contributions so they can get elected again. That's the shit we really need to crack down on.

So by all means, prosecute people who do this shit, but hit them all, not just the black (democratic) dude.

[branford]

16. We agree. All corruption should be punished to the fullest extent of the law.

[questionseverything]

14. yea justice wastes no time

prosecuting dems but good ole bob mcdonnell is still walking free and continuing being gov..right?

[dbackjon]

17. Former Ill Governor George Ryan - white, Republican. Went to Jail Twice as long

[mindwalker_i]

19. The wiki on him...

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Ryan

Says that was in 2003. Things done changed since then - the the aforementioned Bachmann.

[dbackjon]

20. You also have to give the wheels of justice some time

And, as much as I despise Bachmann, what she is accused of doing is nowhere near this level of theft.

[mopinko]

23. most of our governors retire to prison.

i thought that was normal.

[hack89]

21. Here is a list of Federal politicians convicted of crimes since 1771

both parities and all races are well represented.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_American_federal_politicians_convicted_of_crimes

[darkangel218]

26. Couldnt keep their hands out of the cookie jar.

Yikes

[warrant46]

27. And one particular skunk US Rep Randy "Duke" Cunningham

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duke_Cunningham

Who received 8 1/2 years

[Tx4obama]

28. Interesting link - thanks for posting it :)

[dawn frenzy adams]

30. BINGO!

BINGO!

[tblue]

34. Only thing is he should've known

he can't get away with that crap. As a black man, as Jesse's son, he had to know he was under a magnifying glass and that he had a greater chance of being caught if he ever did anything underhanded. Well, he's lucky it's only 30 months and he'll probably go to some minimum-security white-collar prison. I hope so anyway. This is not a crime beyond redemption. Hope he gets his life together now, for the sake of his family.

[hrmjustin]

31. Well they committed the crime and now they have to do the time.

Feel sorry that they did this but they did it.

[Pterodactyl]

32. Shameful crooks.

[Catherine Vincent]

35. Very good

Now...any news on Tom Delay? (rhetorical)