As a popular Congressman in a heavily Democratic district, Jesse Jackson Jr was given plenty of support over the summer when he decided to take a leave of absence for health reasons. As the weeks have gone by and rumors of alcoholism and federal investigations have wafted through the community, however, angry rebukes and calls to resign have started to emerge, both from inside the politician’s party and from those outside. Today, Jackson finally answered those condemnations by delivering a resignation letter to Speaker of the House John Boehner.
According to The Chicago Tribune, Jackson’s resignation acknowledged both his health issues and the investigations he’s currently at the center of. He also admitted to making his “share of mistakes” and expressed hope he’d be remembered for the positive changes he brought about during his tenure in Washington.
That tenure started in 1995 with his election to Congress. As the son of the famed civil rights leader, he enjoyed almost immediate support in Chicago, and by all accounts, served pretty honorably for more than a decade. Unfortunately, the wheels stated to come off a few years ago when he was implicated in a scandal to allegedly bribe disgraced Governor Rod Blagojevich into appointing him to President Obama’s departing Senate seat. More recently, he was also accused of supposedly misusing campaign funds.
With the federal investigations still running their courses and much work still to do for his treatment, it’s unclear where Jackson’s life may take him in the near future. Regardless of the mistakes he might have made, Pop Blend wishes him nothing but the best in the future.
Here’s to hoping whoever his successor is proves to follow the straight and narrow a little more closely.
