NewsNation   |  November 21, 2012

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. resigns from Congress

NBC's Luke Russert reports on the breaking news that Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. has resigned from Congress.

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This content comes from Closed Captioning that was broadcast along with this program.

>>> back, everybody. more on the breaking news. illinois congressman ja jesse jackson jr . resigned from congress. luke russert joins wime with more. people are questioning the timing and the investigation of whether or not the allegations that jackson converted campaign funds to personal use.

>> sure. a few interesting things here, thomas. we have on good authority he resigned today because, obviously, a lot of folks on capitol hill gone home for the holidays . an easy way to try to sneak it in under the media's eye. we caught it, though. the reason is essentially he's been under a federal probe for allegedly misusing campaign funds, took money from the campaign to buy himself an expensive watch, redirect his home and his office. things that are illegal. he's also been involved in other controversy surrounding a pay for play scandal with the senate seat of president obama . there is speculation he was involved with governor blagojevich of trying to obtain that seat improperly. but if essentially with this resignation is more at w the federal probe of misusing campaign funds. today, a letter to speaker john boehner , a resignation letter. events as they unfolded today, thomas, there's a call he planned with some staff about his future today on wednesday. that call is canceled and then his brother told a chicago newspaper he was resigning and the letter in speaker boehner office about a half