海角大神

Federal prosecutors say US Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D) of Illinois was directly involved in a potential $1 million offer to win a US Senate seat controlled by former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich.

Representative Jackson鈥檚 involvement was brought up Wednesday in federal court in downtown Chicago, where Mr. Blagojevich is on trial facing 24 counts of fraud, conspiracy, bribery, and racketeering related to a pay-to-play scheme involving the Senate seat formerly held by President Obama.

What makes the allegation significant is that this is the first time prosecutors have said publicly that Jackson met with Blagojevich representatives, offering to raise money for the former governor at the same time Blagojevich was seeking money in exchange for the Senate seat appointment.

Jackson has strongly denied any direct involvement with Blagojevich ever since the former governor was arrested and charged outside his home in December 2008.

鈥淚 never sent a message or an emissary to the governor to make an offer, plead my case, or propose a deal about a US Senate seat, period,鈥� he wrote in a statement released several days after Blagojevich鈥檚 arrest.

Jackson is not charged in the case. A phone call to his Washington office seeking comment Thursday was not returned.

Jackson and Blagojevich negotiated though prominent businessmen from Chicago鈥檚 North Side Indian community, prosecutors say.

Senate seat discussed at restaurant meeting

Rajinder Bedi, who worked for Blagojevich, testified Wednesday that he met with Jackson and Raghuveer Nayak, a Jackson supporter and fundraiser, in a downtown Loop restaurant on Oct. 28, 2008. There, Mr. Bedi said, Jackson expressed interest in the Senate seat and the discussion turned to political fundraising.

In that conversation, Bedi said Mr. Nayak discussed the possibility of Jackson raising at least $1 million to influence the Senate selection in his favor.

When he denied any wrongdoing, Jackson never volunteered that the meeting took place.

Jurors also listened to audiotapes of wiretaps, which show Blagojevich鈥檚 surprise and, later, interest in Jackson鈥檚 overtures. In one conversation, recorded Oct. 31, 2008, a few days after the restaurant meeting, former deputy governor Robert Greenlee is heard discussing Jackson.

鈥淚鈥檓 tellin鈥� ya, that guy鈥檚 shameless,鈥� Mr. Greenlee is heard saying.

鈥淯nbelievable isn鈥檛 it 鈥� we were approached, pay to play. That, you know, he鈥檇 raise me 500 grand, an emissary came, then the other guy would raise a million, if I made him a senator,鈥� Blagojevich replies.

Before Jackson was linked with Blagojevich, he enjoyed a relatively untarnished image in Illinois politics.

He was one of the few figures outside of Chicago鈥檚 tightly controlled political machine considered a viable challenger to longtime Chicago Mayor Richard M. Daley. Jackson announced his candidacy to run against Mayor Daley in early 2006 but left the race months later, saying he was best suited to helping Democrats control Congress, when his party won majority rule that November.

His congressional district stretches from Chicago鈥檚 South Side to the rural outposts of Chicago鈥檚 Southwest suburbs, which means his support crosses several demographic lines, particularly race. Obama helped raise Jackson鈥檚 national profile when he picked him as national co-chairman for his successful presidential campaign.

Jackson also managed to step outside the large shadow of his father, civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Unlike his father, whose own political ambitions foundered, the younger Jackson was starting to build a political machine of his own, which at front and center featured his wife, Sandi Jackson, a Chicago alderwoman.

The buzz around Jesse Jackson Jr.

Because of their charisma, good looks, and savvy political dealmaking, the couple was once considered 鈥淐hicago鈥檚 future first family,鈥� says Cindi Canary, executive director of the Illinois Campaign for Political Reform, a Chicago-based nonprofit that urges governmental transparency. 鈥淭here was a buzz around them that politicians love to have.鈥�

Ms. Canary says Wednesday鈥檚 testimony 鈥渉as the potential of hurting [Jackson] tremendously.鈥�

Prosecutors say Blagojevich later warmed to the idea of picking Jackson, but wanted to make sure the congressman would deliver on fundraising.

鈥淚 can cut a better political deal with these Jacksons 鈥� but some of it can be tangible upfront," Blagojevich is heard telling his brother Robert in a phone call recorded Dec. 4, 2008.

Blagojevich directed his brother to set up a meeting with Nayak, Jackson鈥檚 representative. But the meeting was canceled once The Chicago Tribune broke the story that the former governor was under federal investigation.

Canary says it is surprising that Jackson was willing to risk dealing with Blagojevich at a time when it was widely known 鈥� even to the governor 鈥� that he was under investigation.

鈥淚n those final months in office he was toxic. Everybody knew,鈥� she says. 鈥淗e was absolutely radioactive but some seemed willing to try to take that on.鈥�

Related:

Will Rod Blagojevich trial be a circus? The ex-governor hopes so

Rod Blagojevich trial: Obama isn't there, but he comes up a lot

Six revelations about former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich