Ethics probe for Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.?

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Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr., D-Ill., walks from the podium after a news conference on Capitol Hill in Washington, Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2008. Jackson says he is not a target of the investigation that led this week’s arrest of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)

By Ryan J. Reilly
TPMMuckraker

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich being found guilty on 17 of 20 corruption charges might mean the House Ethics Committee probe into allegations against Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill) could get underway soon.

Back in November, the House Ethics Committee deferred taking any action in the Jackson matter at the request of the Justice Department. Federal officials had requested House staffers put off the matter until DOJ’s prosecution had wrapped up.

Jackson had been accused of telling one of his major campaign donors to give money to Blagojevich so the former Illinois governor would appointed Jackson to the Senate seat left empty by President Barack Obama.

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