Jesse Jackson Jr. Released From Halfway House In Baltimore
Jesse Jackson Jr. has been released from a halfway house where he has lived for the past several months after serving two and a half years in prison for spending $750,000 in campaign money on personal items, according to the Associated Press.
Jackson, a former U.S. Rep from Chicago, was released from the Volunteers of America halfway house in Baltimore on Monday morning. Two black SUVs were waiting for him outside, and drove him to his family’s home in Washington where he will be staying, according to NBC News.
The Associated Press explains that Jackson must spend three years on supervised release under jurisdiction of the U.S. Probation Office and complete 500 hours of community service.
[WATCH] Jesse Jackson Jr. waved as he left an east Baltimore halfway house this morning. http://t.co/2sorbgyg4D pic.twitter.com/Ahp2H3E2mt
— WJZ | CBS Baltimore (@cbsbaltimore) June 22, 2015
Jackson briefly spoke to the reporters upon his release on his current condition.
“No complaints,” he said. “It’s a great day to be home… great day to be with my family and my friends, thank you.”
“He’s doing really well,” Rev. Jesse Jackson said in a phone interview from Chicago. “He’s close to permanent release. He is emotionally and physically strong. His family is delighted, and so are we.”
Jesse Jackson Jr. set to serve home confinement in Washington reports @lynnsweet: http://t.co/6nyR9F3QqEpic.twitter.com/WoVUdZlZQP
— Chicago Sun-Times (@Suntimes) June 22, 2015
According to a previous report by the Inquisitr, “Jackson’s wife, a former Chicago city council member, also pleaded guilty to federal charges for filing false tax returns related to her husband’s personal spending of campaign money.”
“The courts allowed Jackson’s wife to serve her one-year term after her husband is released so that one parent could be home with their two young children. Sandi Jackson is to report to federal prison 30 days after her husband is released in an effort to reduce the impact on their school-age children.”
According to the court filings, Jesse and his wife spent the campaign money on fur capes, mounted elk heads, a $43,350, gold-plated men’s Rolex watch, and Bruce Lee memorabilia. They also spent $9,587.64 on children’s furniture.
Jackson served in Congress from 1995 until November, 2012, when he resigned. In June, 2012, he took a medical leave to seek treatment for his bipolar disorder. Jesse moved into the halfway house in March after being released from an Alabama prison.
[Photo by Mark Wilson / Getty Images]
