“Senate Candidate no. 5” appears multiple times throughout the FBI’s 76-page complaint against Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich.
ABC News has identified candidate #5 as none other than Jesse Jackson’s son, Chicago Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.
According to the complaint, Candidate no. 5 offered “up to $1 million” to Blagojevich to name him as Barack Obama’s successor in the Illinois Senate.
According to the FBI affidavit in the case, Blagojevich “stated he might be able to cut a deal with Senate Candidate 5 that provided Rod Blagojevich” with something “tangible up front.”
Jackson said this morning he was contacted Tuesday by federal prosecutors in Chicago whom he said “asked me to come in and share with them my insights and thoughts about the selection process.”
Jackson said, “I don’t know” when asked whether he was Candidate No. 5, but said he was told “I am not a target of this investigation.”
Jackson said he agreed to talk with federal investigators “as quickly as possible” after he consulted with a lawyer. (Source)
Let’s hope Jackson’s voice isn’t heard on any of those wiretap tapes.
