By Daily Mail (U.S.) | Created at 2024-12-06 01:47:12 | Updated at 2024-12-22 06:19:15
2 weeks ago
The same day President Joe Biden pardoned his son Hunter, Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. asked the Democrat to extend the same courtesy to his own son.
Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. spent 30 months in prison a decade ago after spending around $750,000 in campaign cash on more than 3,000 personal purchases including a Michael Jackson fedora, a Rolex watch and fur coats.
In a two-page letter to Biden, obtained by Politico, the 83-year-old civil rights leader explained away his son's spending problem.
'While my son came to Congress with my "big" name, our family had no "big" financial statements for our years of civil and public service,' Jackson wrote. 'He had no foundation for living in two places with a family, and over 10 years, he spent funds he raised each year - not taxpayer funds - a total of $75 thousand dollars each year for certain personal and living expenses.'
Jackson and his then-wife Sandi signed plea agreements, with Jackson pleading guilty of fraud, conspiracy, making false statements, mail fraud, wire fraud and criminal forfeiture.
'Like Hunter, federal investigations begin in one place and always conclude somewhere else,' the elder Jackson said.
He asked Biden to give his son and former daughter-in-law a 'full and absolute pardon.'
'I implore you to consider his full freedom as opposed to his continued sentence in the form of "felonization,"' Jackson wrote. 'I hope that his pardon ... would provide for the expungement of his as well as Hunter's record,' the civil rights leader added.
Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (left) spent 30 months in prison after spending $750,000 in campaign cash on more than 3,000 personal purchases. His father, prominent civil rights leader Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. (right) asked President Joe Biden to pardon his son
Speaking to Politico, Jesse Jackson Jr. confirmed that he had filled out documents for formally request a pardon from Biden - after not doing so with Democratic President Barack Obama after he was released from prison in 2015.
'I did 30 months in prison. I did what the judge told me to do on behalf of the people. I honored it. I pled guilty. No jury had to find me guilty. So I owned my behavior,' the younger Jackson said.
'But the felonization doesn't end. My marriage ended. My house is near foreclosure. I'm having difficulty getting hired. It doesn't end,' he continued, adding that it's even harder for others to reenter society. 'It shouldn't be a life sentence.'
In his letter, Jackson Sr. pushed that spending reform was needed, as maintaining two homes as a member of Congress - one in a home district and then a place to live in Washington - was cost-prohibitive for many American public servants.
'In addition to your pardon consideration for my son and his former wife, I pray that, some measure of relief and reform may result from this letter for the benefit of all citizens, and those elected citizens who go to Washington, D.C. to serve our country,' Jackson wrote.
Jackson noted that his son made 'full financial restitution' - meaning now the home where his grandchildren reside in Washington, D.C. is near foreclosure.
'Whether from a position of established wealth or a position of less means, I pray that they find service to the American experiment, a joy and not a burden, as they live in two place, protect and educate their children, and care for their families, while they protect and care for the American family,' Jackson wrote.
The elder Jackson ended the letter by referencing Hunter again.
Jesse Jackson Sr.'s letter was addressed to President Joe Biden - pictured Wednesday during his trip to Angola - on the same day that Biden announced that he would be pardoning his son Hunter
'President Biden, even at this writing, I realize the burden you are carrying with your own son's future,' Jackson said. 'I will keep you in prayer as you weigh the balance of his life and the power of forgiveness.'
Jackson Sr. has been living with Parkinson's Disease since 2015 and retired last year.
At the time, Biden sent out a statement remarking on their 'decades of friendship and partnership.'
'Jill and I are grateful to Reverend Jackson for his lifetime of dedicated service and extend our appreciation to the entire Jackson family,' Biden said.
The White House did not immediately respond to a request for comment on whether Biden would pardon Jackson Jr.
Politico reported Wednesday that Biden's aides are discussing whether some of President-elect Donald Trump's politicial foes should get blanket pardons before the Democrat heads out the door on January 20.
Among those named in the story were Sen.-elect Adam Schiff - who said he doesn't want a preemptive pardon - former GOP Rep. Liz Cheney and Dr. Anthony Fauci, who's been criticized by Trump's MAGA allies for the COVID-19 pandemic response.
