Reverend Jesse Jackson has asked President Biden to pardon his son – but what do we know about former Illinois congressman Jesse Jackson Jr, and how did he end up in prison?
In 2013, Jesse Jackson Jr pled guilty to misusing campaign funds and was sentenced to prison time; he was released in 2015 and is now seeking a presidential pardon after struggling to rebuild his life
Jackson Jr was previously sentenced to 30 months in jail after he was found to have spent campaign money on personal items. But Jackson Jr says his life remains impacted by his decisions, insisting it was a “life sentence”.
From his crime and jail time to trying to build a future, here’s what you need to know about Jesse Jackson Jr.
He served time for his crime
In 2012, Jackson Jr resigned from Congress after serving for 17 years. The surprise move came amid a criminal investigation, though it was later revealed that he was also suffering from a medical condition. The investigation led to charges against Jackson Jr and in 2013, he pleaded guilty to misappropriating US$750,000 in funds over the course of 10 years. The money was taken from his re-election campaign and used to finance his lifestyle. He was sentenced to 30 months in federal custody, including time in prison, a halfway house, and under house arrest.
Jackson Jr told WTTW News that he needed the money to maintain two bases – in Washington and Chicago – as part of his political career. “So to the tune of about US$75,000 a year, I lived in my campaign,” he told the publication. “US$75,000 a year to live in two cities – Chicago and Washington, to go to work every day, to not miss a vote in nearly 17 years as a congressman. Yes, I lived in my campaign fund and I owned my behaviour for that.”
He was released from jail in 2015 and has spent the last decade trying to rebuild his life.