Jackson Jr. denies report he instructed businessman to give Blagojevich money for Senate seat

Jackson Jr. denies report about Blagojevich funds

CHICAGO — Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. denies a report that he told a businessman to offer Rod Blagojevich millions of dollars in exchange for being appointed to the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama.

The Chicago Sun-Times reported Tuesday that businessman Raghuveer Nayak told the FBI Jackson instructed him to raise $6 million in campaign funds for the then-governor. In a Tuesday statement, Jackson denied Nayak’s allegation. He has long denied knowing anything about the alleged offer.

The paper also reports Nayak told the FBI he paid airfare for a woman he described as a “social acquaintance” of Jackson. Jackson says the issue is a private matter between him and his wife, Chicago Alderman Sandi Jackson.

Sandi Jackson has said both she and her husband are thinking about running for Chicago mayor.