Jesse Jackson, Jr. in hiding

U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr.

Congressmen, even Jesse Jackson, Jr., are representatives of the people. Therefore, when one of them disappears, the public has a right to know the circumstances. That was stated well in an excellent article written by Carol Marin in the Chicago Sun Times recently.

Marin expressed that Jackson owes an explanation to the people who first hired him as their representative in 1994 and who wants to be rehired for a tenth time in November.

Further, Jackson's famous father Jesse Jackson is a public figure. His wife, Sandi is a Chicago Alderman, making her a public figure as well. Why are they not disclosing the whereabouts and reasons behind Jackson's disappearing act?

On Monday, Jackson's office released a statement that claimed Jackson is suffering from exhaustion, which his office says began June 10.

Curiously, that was just 10 days before Jackson's fundraiser pal, Raghuveer Nayak was hauled out of his home by the FBI and arrested for participating in an alleged kickback scheme involving a number of surgical centers he owns. He was tied to Jackson when Nayak was said to be Jackson's emissary, in offering ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich money in return for Blagojevich's naming Jackson to the U.S. Senate seat formerly occupied by President Barack Obama. Jackson has denied involvement in such a scheme.

Jackson has also claimed his innocence to U.S. ethics investigators who are looking into his using his congressional staff in the fundraising for Blagojevich. The ethics panel is also questioning the ethics behind Nayak's purchasing an airline ticket for Jackson's lady friend. Jackson claims that personal and private matter was not a violation of the House ethics either.

These are not isolated incidents. There have been several issues related to Jackson's proposed Peotone Airport that have been bothersome. Several are outlined in a previous CHBlog post, House ethics committee needs to dig deep into Jackson's dealings.

To those who have watched Jackson use every trick in the book, including bullying tactics, in his quest to build an airport in eastern Will County, Jackson will get little sympathy, no matter what his affliction. Few believe the story that he has any affliction at all; they think he is simply in hiding, either trying to wait out the storm at the very least, or more likely trying to figure a way out of the mess he seems to have gotten himself into.