Jesse Jackson, Jr: not his fundraiser’s keeper
As news reports surfaced today that two Illinois donors with ties to Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. promised to raise $5 million for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich plus $1 million from Indian community donors if Jackson was appointed to President Back Obama’s U.S. Senate seat, Jackson continued to deny any knowledge of pay-to-play schemes. While it’s too early to tell what the findings of any investigation will be, the episode if nothing else demonstrates how lawmakers have a hard time distancing themselves from scandal when they’ve partied with suspects.
Take a gander at these fundraisers in the Party Time database for Jackson, three in the last month alone. There’s this annual “roast” for the congressman. There’s also not one but two birthday celebrations–this one in Washington D.C, at the offices of the lobbying firm the Twenty First Century Group hosted by lobbyists Cynthia Wilkinson and Jocelyn Hong. Then there’s this one in Chicago at the restaurant 312.
According to today’s New York TImes story about the investigation of the congressman, one of the donors under scrutiny, Raghuveer Nayak, “has been a sponsor of the congressman’s annual “birthday bash” fund-raiser” in Illinois. It’s probably the same party. Jackson has said that he spoke with Nayak about the senate seat but did nothing illegal. “I pray for him,” he told the Chicago Sun-Times. Jackson is basically saying that he’s not his fundraiser’s keeper–but investigators appear to be taking a closer look.
TweetPARTYFINDER™ Hints
Beneficiary: congressional candidate, lawmaker, or entity which collects funds raised at party
Host: person who is hosting party-often, but not always, a registered federal lobbyist
Venue Name: where the party is
Entertainment Type: type of gathering, such as "breakfast," "ski trip," "bowling"
Other Lawmakers Mentioned: lawmakers mentioned on invitation who are used as a draw for the event
Sunlight's Party Time is a project to track parties for members of Congress or congressional candidates that happen all year round in Washington, D.C. and beyond. (read more)
We also post information we receive about parties where members of Congress are expected to participate—such as convention or inaugural parties.
Since we don't hear about all the parties, you can also tell us if you know where the party is and we don't.
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