Pursuant to Committee Rule 18, the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct has been investigating whether Representative Jesse Jackson Jr., or an agent of Representative Jackson, may have offered to raise funds for then-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich in return for the appointment of Representative Jackson to the Illinois Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama.
During the course of the Committee’s investigation, the Committee received a referral from the Office of Congressional Ethics regarding this same matter. The Committee has also been in communication with the Department of Justice relating to the criminal indic1ment against Rod Blagojevich and investigation into the facts surrounding Rod Blagojevich’s consideration of multiple candidates to fill the vacant Senate seat.
The Department of Justice has asked the Committee to defer consideration of this matter and the Committee, following precedent, unanimously voted to defer consideration of this matter at this time.
The Committee will continue to monitor the situation and will consider pursuing avenues of inquiry that it concludes do not interfere with the activities of the Department of Justice. At least annually, the Committee will make a public statement if it continues to defer taking action on the matter. The Committee reserves the right to assert its jurisdiction if, in its determination, a violation of House rules, code, or other laws under its jurisdiction are discovered that will not interfere with the Department of Justice’s activities.