WASHINGTON – Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. and his wife, Sandi, held hands as they arrived this morning at the federal courthouse, where they will be sentenced for separate felonies related to the misspending of about $750,000 in campaign funds.
Jackson Jr. wore a dark suit and grimaced. Sandi Jackson wore a beige suit and smiled broadly. They said nothing to more than 20 media representatives gathered.
The Jacksons emerged from a white SUV and were accompanied by Judy Smith, a crisis communications expert and former federal prosecutor whose work inspired the TV show “Scandal.”
The ex-congressman’s father, Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., arrived earlier with his wife and some of his children.
Speaking with reporters before the hearing, Rev. Jackson reflected on his son’s diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
“I don’t know how I missed so many signs,” he said. “We found out he was sick very late. We thought we almost lost him. He was in a different place altogether.”
“He was very sick,” said Rev. Jackson. “People speculating, ‘Is he faking it?’ No, he’s not.”
Jackson said that for a time his son wouldn’t drink water, worrying it was dirty.
Jackson Jr., 48, and Sandi Jackson , 49, a former Chicago alderman, both could be given prison terms. Federal Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who is no relation to the defendants, will sentence Jackson Jr. on a felony conspiracy count and will sentence Sandi Jackson on a related charge of failing to report about $600,000 in taxable income.
Jackson Jr. entered the courtoom about 8:20 a.m. Chicago time, 10 minutes before the scheduled start of the hearings, and shook hands with lawyers, including those at the prosecutors' table.
He took a seat at the defense table, leaned back in a swivel chair and chatted with the person to his left. Then he clutched his left hand and held it at over his mouth.
The two Chicago Democrats pleaded guilty in February after a yearslong spending spree with campaign funds. Among the loot: a Rolex watch, furs, vacations, two mounted elk heads and memorabilia ranging from a Michael Jackson fedora to an Eddie Van Halen guitar.
Prosecutors want him to serve four years in prison and her 18 months. Defense lawyers want probation for her and a lighter term for him.
If both get prison terms, they are expected to be served consecutively so that either the husband or wife is free to care for their two children, ages 9 and 13.
Jackson Jr. was in the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2012. Sandi Jackson served on the City Council from 2007 until last January. Both resigned their positions leading up to their guilty pleas.
Jackson Jr. began a mysterious medical leave of absence from Congress in June 2012 and never returned. His lawyers say he has severe depression and bipolar disorder.
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Jackson Jr. wore a dark suit and grimaced. Sandi Jackson wore a beige suit and smiled broadly. They said nothing to more than 20 media representatives gathered.
The Jacksons emerged from a white SUV and were accompanied by Judy Smith, a crisis communications expert and former federal prosecutor whose work inspired the TV show “Scandal.”
The ex-congressman’s father, Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., arrived earlier with his wife and some of his children.
Speaking with reporters before the hearing, Rev. Jackson reflected on his son’s diagnosis of bipolar disorder.
“I don’t know how I missed so many signs,” he said. “We found out he was sick very late. We thought we almost lost him. He was in a different place altogether.”
“He was very sick,” said Rev. Jackson. “People speculating, ‘Is he faking it?’ No, he’s not.”
Jackson said that for a time his son wouldn’t drink water, worrying it was dirty.
Jackson Jr., 48, and Sandi Jackson , 49, a former Chicago alderman, both could be given prison terms. Federal Judge Amy Berman Jackson, who is no relation to the defendants, will sentence Jackson Jr. on a felony conspiracy count and will sentence Sandi Jackson on a related charge of failing to report about $600,000 in taxable income.
Jackson Jr. entered the courtoom about 8:20 a.m. Chicago time, 10 minutes before the scheduled start of the hearings, and shook hands with lawyers, including those at the prosecutors' table.
He took a seat at the defense table, leaned back in a swivel chair and chatted with the person to his left. Then he clutched his left hand and held it at over his mouth.
The two Chicago Democrats pleaded guilty in February after a yearslong spending spree with campaign funds. Among the loot: a Rolex watch, furs, vacations, two mounted elk heads and memorabilia ranging from a Michael Jackson fedora to an Eddie Van Halen guitar.
Prosecutors want him to serve four years in prison and her 18 months. Defense lawyers want probation for her and a lighter term for him.
If both get prison terms, they are expected to be served consecutively so that either the husband or wife is free to care for their two children, ages 9 and 13.
Jackson Jr. was in the House of Representatives from 1995 to 2012. Sandi Jackson served on the City Council from 2007 until last January. Both resigned their positions leading up to their guilty pleas.
Jackson Jr. began a mysterious medical leave of absence from Congress in June 2012 and never returned. His lawyers say he has severe depression and bipolar disorder.
[email protected]