Busted: Jesse Jackson Jr Faces Jail Time And Resignation in Plea Deal

Jesse Jackson Jr. may have won reelection last Tuesday, but don't expect him to finish (or possibly even start) his new term. The Illinois Democrat is currently facing charges for misuse of campaign funds, and apparently trying to cut a deal with his federal accusers. And while details on that deal are sketchy, it is considered near certain that Jackson will have to resign, pay back the money he embezzled and possibly serve time in jail - a far cry from the House of Representatives.

The Huffington Post reports on Jackson's troubles, via CBS News:

CBS Chicago reported Saturday that veteran criminal defense attorney and former U.S. Attorney Dan Webb is negotiating a deal that tentatively includesthe congressman pleading guilty to misusing campaign funds, resigning for health reasons, repaying any campaign contributions that went toward personal expenditures and -- almost inevitably -- some jail time.

The negotiations are expected to be wrapped up by the year's end, according to CBS. [...]

Members of Chicago's City Council, of which Jackson's wife Sandi Jackson is a member, criticized the congressman after news of the reported plea deal went public.

"To slap us in the face now, you just lied to us. You just lied to us. I feel so betrayed," Ald. Carrie Austin (34th) told NBC Chicago last week.

Ald. Deborah Graham (29th) told the Sun-Times she is "heartbroken" for Sandi amid the controversy.

"It’s a terrible time for her and her children," Graham told the newspaper.

Jackson's misfortunes began earlier this year when it was uncovered that he spent official campaign funds on a $40,000 Rolex watch for a female friend and the decorating of his Washington, D.C. home.  Since then a mental health-centered saga has begun, revealing Jackson to suffer from sever bipolarity, checking himself in and out of the Mayo Clinic for treatment with increasing regularity.