CHICAGO (CBS) ―

The U.S. House Ethics Committee says it wanted to investigate whether U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) did, in fact, offer money to deposed Gov. Rod Blagojevich in exchange for a coveted appointment to the U.S. Senate.

Jackson may have broken federal laws in a bid to get Barack Obama's vacated Senate seat. CBS 2 Political Editor Mike Flannery reports on the latest allegations to tarnish the once shining star.

He used to tell colleagues on Capitol Hill that eventually he'd become mayor of Chicago.

But last year, Jackson launched a campaign to persuade Rod Blagojevich to appoint him to the U.S. Senate.

Now the Office of Congressional Ethics says Jackson used government "staff resources" in that campaign and "may have violated federal law and House rules."

"It's a bad day for Illinois, all the way around," said Illinois GOP Chairman Patrick Brady.

"And if it turns out that it was a violation, that is one more reason for people to lose faith in government and in people they trust," said Ralph Martire, executive director of Center for Tax and Budget Accountability.

"Let's let the House panel do their work before we come to any conclusion or rush to any judgment," said Ill. Sen. Rev. James Meeks.

Just this week, Jackson was named one of the 15 most corrupt congressmen by a group called Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, or CREW.

They focused on what FBI agents revealed after arresting Blagojevich. The FBI said it secretly recorded the former governor talking about an "emissary" from a candidate later identified as Jackson.

The Congressman's camp allegedly promised to raise $1.5 million for Blagojevich if he would appoint Jackson to the Senate.

Next to a South Side office where tax-paid staffers may have been misused by Jackson, constituents Wednesday afternoon were standing by him.

"All I know is that he has been an influential example, black man, in the community working against the odds," said Peter Palmer.

"I don't believe none of the allegations against him or Blagojevich," said Samirah Garnett. "I think it's a conspiracy."

In a written statement, Jackson says he's done nothing wrong.

Meanwhile, the House Ethics Committee said it would honor a request from federal prosecutors. So it's deferring any investigation into the alleged $1.5 million pay-to-play with Blagojevich.

The committee indicated it could investigate Jackson's use of government staff resources for political purposes.
 

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