Associated Press
After struggling for several months with mental health issues, Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) announced this afternoon that he is resigning from Congress, just two weeks after winning a ninth term.
An aide to House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, told NBC News that the speaker's office had received a letter this afternoon from the Illinois congressman resigning from Congress.
The son of the Rev. Jesse Jackson, the civil rights leader, Jackson, Jr. had sought treatment for bipolar depression at the Mayo Clinic for much of the past summer and fall. His last vote in Congress was on June 10, and his mysterious disappearance from official duties prompted speculation about the reason for the Democratic congressman's prolonged absence.
There have been reports in recent weeks that Jackson remains the target of an ongoing investigations, though it's unclear if his resignation is related to those allegations.
As for the larger context, Jackson is the 10th member of the 112th Congress to resign before the end of the term. I don't know if that's a record, but it's an awfully big number.
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Whatever his reasoning is I wish him a good recovery mental illness while we don't talk about it, can be severe and debilitating and he needs the time to work thru and accept his illness.
Good luck with your bipolar, it's hard to get a handle on, but once you're meds are pretty well set, please don't stop taking them, it really messes things up for you and can scare the heck out of those who love and care for you. Again, good luck, be happy it's been diagnosed, and may God bless and keep you.
While I support Jesse Jackson, Jr. and his problems, he has also just cost the taxpayers in the state of Illinois a few million dollars.
Had he simply not run for office, someone else could have gotten elected.
The way that Illinois law is written, we have to have ANOTHER election to fill his seat.
You don't understand. People with Bipolar or Aspergers are mostly very bright people, and they go un-diagnosed most of their lives. Then somewhere it raises it ugly head and begins to cause that person problems. Today it can be successfully treated. In the past we just wrote people off as odd or crazy. Thank God for people like Albert Einstein and others who can operate as normal citizens and have this creative gift that they can use, not be pack off to an asylum.
With the right meds Jesse can live a very productive life. He'll be back.
Best of luck to Jesse.
This is such an unexpected end to what looked to be a very promising political career. I wish him well.
Too bad some of those mentally ill repubs don't do the same. No honor, I suppose. I wish him a complete healing.
Beat me to it
Or is this an elaborate "mental illness" defense brought on by the prospect of federal charges?
Sure. There's no problem with suffering from a mental illness and serving in congress is nothing wrong. Look at how many are doing it.
His wife is under investigation also. She is an alderman on the Chicago City Council and was receiving consulting fees from his campaign even when he was out sick. The whole family has questionable ethics.
The whole family has questionable ethics
I couldn't agree more.
He had the good sense to seek help and he has decided to resign (perhaps to avoid a public display of his condition if it worsens?). What a shame the far right members who are demonstrating maniacal behavior do not have the same good sense.
Best wishes Jesse.
stop giving these shady Pls. a free pass. JJ Jr. is up to his neck in dirt and grime. he is smart enough to maneuver his way around the legal fix he may be in, but we all can see that his commitment to the people of his district has been compromised and the time to pay the piper has come. Hold him to a higher standard than we do those nut bag wing nuts.
Rot in jail JJ.Jr.
Jackson or his campaign should be required to pay for the special election, not the taxpayers of Illinois.
Could states pass laws making an officeholder liable for the cost of a special election? Or is that not possible for a federal office? At the least, how about passing a law saying that the Governor appoints a replacement who will serve until the next normal election so that a special one isn't needed.
Yep, it sucks, doesn't it? The Jackson family goes down...very plain and simple. Who'd a thunk differently?
The State of Illinois is the largest welfare state on the planet. You, State of Illinois, plainly, suck. The rest of the U.S. refuses to haul your asses out of bankruptcy. Please handle your largesse, yourself. In Georgia, we have a AAA rating on our bonds....what's your rating?
Time to turn the light out on the Jackson family. They are toast...done.
Ciao! It's about time......tired of these people "serving" us when they aren't. God help them, but give up the public jobs and let someone actually represent the people full time.