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Former US Congressman, Wife to Plead Guilty for Misspending Campaign Money


Former U.S. Representative Jesse Jackson, Junior is expected to plead guilty for spending hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign funds on personal items.

Jackson, the son of civil rights leader, the Reverend Jesse Jackson, and his wife Sandra, arrived at a federal court in Washington Wednesday.

Prosecutors say the 47-year-old Jackson used campaign funds to buy a $43,350 gold-plated Rolex watch, almost $10,000 worth of children's furniture, and thousands of dollars worth of memorabilia, including a fedora once worn by pop superstar Michael Jackson and other items connected to former civil rights leaders and U.S. presidents.

Jackson's wife, Sandra, is accused of spending about $5,000 on fur capes and parkas.

Prosecutors say, in all, the couple misspent $750,000.

The former Illinois congressman is expected to plead guilty to a conspiracy charge. His wife, a former elected official from the city of Chicago, is expected to plead guilty to filing false tax returns.

Jackson served in the House of Representatives for 17 years until he resigned last November. He had been on medical leave for what was eventually described as treatment for bipolar disorder .
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