Blagojevich Promised $5 Million If He Appointed Jackson

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April 13, 2009

Blagojevich Promised $5 Million If He Appointed Jackson

Former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's staff was told last year that Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) would raise up to $5 million in campaign cash for the ex-governor if he was appointed to the U.S. Senate, the Chicago Sun-Times has learned.

"Besides the $5 million to be raised by Jackson, the proposal also included another $1 million for Blagojevich's campaign fund that would come from Indian donors, sources say."

"This is the first revelation that a proposal for the Jackson appointment involved an alleged promise that he'd raise campaign cash for the ex-governor. Also, the amount of money allegedly offered to Blagojevich is significantly higher than what's been reported so far."

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Taegan D. Goddard is the founder of Political Wire, one of the earliest and most influential political web sites.

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Goddard earned degrees from Vassar College and Harvard University. He lives in New York with his wife and three sons.

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April 13, 2009