Free Republic

CHICAGO—U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who defeated a primary challenge this year despite being the target of a House ethics investigation, has been on a medical leave for two weeks and is being treated for exhaustion, his office announced Monday. In a three-sentence news release, Jackson's office disclosed that the Democrat went on leave June 10 but did not provide further details, including how long he would be away. In the release, he asked that his family's privacy be respected.

Businessman and political fundraiser Raghuveer P. Nayak is Individual D in the federal complaint, sources said. Individual D was being squeezed by the governor for campaign cash, according to prosecutors, in order to appoint Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) to the Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama. Investigators appeared at Nayak's home in Oak Brook, a Chicago suburb, the morning the FBI arrested Blagojevich, the sources said. Federal agents that day contacted a number of people connected to the case. Nayak has not been accused of wrongdoing. He declined to comment for this article.

Barack Obama received $10,000 in campaign contributions for his 2004 US senate primary run - far exceeding the maximum amount permitted by law - from Mr. Raghuveer Nayak, an Illinois businessman, now caught up in the federal investigation of Illinois Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich. On Sunday the New York Times reported that Mr. Nayak had offered to raise money for Mr. Blagojevich on behalf of Rep Jesse L. Jackson Jr. The Times also reported that Mr. Nayak and his wife, Anita, have donated nearly $17,000 to Mr. Obama’s campaigns since 2003 and raised thousands more for Mr. Obama's 2004 Senate...

Report: Jackson Backers Sought Cash For Obama Post CHICAGO (CBS) ― Businessmen with ties to both Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich and U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson discussed raising $1 million for Blagojevich to help persuade him to appoint Jackson to President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat, according to a published report. Citing unnamed sources, the Chicago Tribune reports in a story for Friday's editions that businessman Raghuveer Nayak and Blagojevich aide Rajinder Bedi told attendees at an Oct. 31 meeting that they needed to raise the money for the governor to ensure Jackson's appointment. "Raghu said he needed to raise a...