Jesse Jackson Jr., the son of civil rights leader and political gadfly Jesse Jackson and a member of the House of Representatives from the south side of Chicago, Illinois, hasn’t been showing up for work very much lately. In fact, no one has seen him in Congress for over a month, and no one really knew why. The missing Jackson was a point of debate and worry for congressional officials within the Democratic party, but the mystery has slowly been revealed. Jesse Jackson Jr. is seeking inpatient treatment for a mood disorder and has been on leave since June 10.
“The congressman is receiving intensive medical treatment at a residential treatment facility for a mood disorder,” said a statement released by Jackson’s office, reportedly from his physician. “He is responding positively to treatment and is expected to make a full recovery.”
Jackson, it should be noted, is at the center of controversy at the moment. He’s one of the people that allegedly tried to buy President Barack Obama’s seat in the Senate from former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich. Federal sources refused to give the nature of Jackson’s illness and treatment due to federal privacy laws, indicating only that he has struggled privately with the mood disorder for several years.
Given their lack of details, I can only assume this is secretly a trip to rehab for his Internet addiction.
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