WASHINGTON – Former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. was sentenced today to 30 months in prison plus three years of supervised release for misspending about $750,000 in campaign funds.
His wife, Sandi, a former Chicago alderman, is expected to be sentenced within minutes on a related charge.
Both Jacksons wept in court as they addressed the judge before sentencing.
Jackson Jr. apologized for his crimes and expressed special regrets to his mother and father.
“Your honor, throughout this process I’ve asked the government and the court to hold me and only me accountable for my actions,” he said.
When Jackson Jr. spoke, he voice was firm except for the few times he wept openly and paused to dry his eyes with tissue, blow his nose and collect himself.
“I am the example for the whole Congress,” he said. “I understand that. I didn’t separate my personal life from my political activities, and I couldn’t have been more wrong.”
Sandi gets 12 months.