Political science professor Dick Simpson believes when the House Ethics Committee completes its investigation into Jesse Jackson Jr. they will decide to censure the congressman.
The committee is investigating allegations Jackson discussed raising money for former Gov. Rod Blagojevich’s campaign in exchange for an appointment as senator.
The house also wants to know whether he directed his fundraiser Raghuveer Nayak to buy plane tickets for a woman he described as a “social acquaintance.”
Simpson notes “the ethics panel in congress, which has the power to censure Jesse Jackson, probably will.
I don’t think they can expel him, throw him out of the congress at this point, based on what we have in evidence, but, I think censure is certainly likely. So, those are heavy problems to be dealing with, for any individual.”
Censure is a legislative term for a public rebuke.
In late 2010, congress voted 333-79 to censure New York Congressman Charlie Rangel after an investigation found that he failed to pay his taxes.
The legislative move had little effect on Rangel who won a primary battle to retain the seat he's held in Harlem for 40 years.
