Federal prosecutors want both Jesse Jackson and his wife, Sandi Jackson, to do time. They’ve suggested she should draw the first sentence, but Jackson says that for the good of his family, he should serve first. Phil Rogers reports.
Convicted former congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. would like to serve prison time ahead of his also-convicted spouse, Sandi Jackson, court filings show.
Paperwork also reveals the former legislator is having difficulty paying the hefty fine of up to $100,000 levied against him by a federal judge.
Jackson in February pleaded guilty to misusing campaign funds. Jackson acknowledged in court that he spent $750,000 of campaign cash on personal items — like a $4,600 Michael Jackson fedora and a $1,500 black-and-red cashmere cape, according to the charges against him — and pleaded guilty to several charges, including conspiracy to commit wire fraud, mail fraud and false statements.
Sandi Jackson pleaded guilty on the same day to tax fraud.
In response to the request about Sandi, the government said that she should not get a break just because she was a good public servant and has family responsibilities.
“Defendant was also a highly compensated, elected official," a government document states. "Whose job was to represent and assist her constituents. She … should not get a variance for merely doing her job as a public servant.”
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