Congressman Jackson has been on a medical leave due to exhaustion for at least two weeks. His offices remain open, but it's not known what kind of treatment he's receiving or where.
Wednesday was the first time Ald. Jackson spoke publicly about the situation.
Ald. Jackson (Ward 7) took the back stairwell to reach the Chicago City Council chamber Wednesday morning. She smiled at the beginning of the meeting and walked through the awaiting media to get to the ladies room without comment. A bit later, Ald. Jackson emerged from the council again. Without explaining the nature of the congressman's condition, she said, "I just, I think it's important to say that I love my husband very much. That's the first thing."
The congressman is under investigation by his house colleagues, who are trying to determine if he was part of an alleged plot to buy a U.S. Senate seat put up for sale by former Gov. Rod Blagojevich. The house ethics committee also wants to know the relationship between Jackson and businessman /political fundraiser Raghuveer Nayak and if Nayak the middleman in the senate seat deal.
The congressman admits Nayak bought Washington-to-Chicago airplane tickets for Giovanna Huidobro, whom Jackson described as a former "social acquaintance."
"The second thing is that as a wife, my primary concern is that of my children. I just want to make sure that they're taken care of and provided for," Ald. Jackson said.
Mayor Rahm Emanuel--who endorsed Congressman Jackson in the March primary--said he has not spoken to congressman.
"My only conversation has been with Sandi. And that is, she is trying to hold her family together. She is dealing with a very difficult situation with two children. And my thoughts are with her and her family as a whole. And that's what I care about," Mayor Emanuel said.
