The office of embattled Illinois Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. today released a statement that the medical condition keeping Jackson from office “is more serious than we thought and initially believed.”
Jackson, citing exhaustion, has been on a leave of absence since June 10. He is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee in connection with the alleged sale of President Barack Obama’s former U.S. Senate seat by former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich.
Thanks to the unspecific and somewhat secretive nature of the statement, it didn’t take long for the Twitterverse to wonder if Jackson’s “exhaustion” was of the kind most often associated with Hollywood celebrities.
https://twitter.com/CuffyMeh/status/220947202783195137
https://twitter.com/PatDollard/status/221039187376357376
https://twitter.com/NicTheEditor/status/221030579007795200
Any post that begins with “word on the street” should be taken with a very large grain of salt. “Mystery” is more like it, but who needs more mystery in politics, especially when an ongoing investigation is involved? Less mystery, please.
Word on the streets in Chicago is @RepJJJr (Jesse Jackson Jr.) can't take the heat, tried to swallow a bottle of pills and check out. #loser
— RebelPundit™ (@RebelPundit) July 5, 2012
Rep. Jackson treated for 'more serious' ailments: The mystery surrounding U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.'s leave of… http://t.co/xtd4b6iN
— FOX 2 Detroit (@FOX2News) July 6, 2012
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Stil no word on whereabouts RT @suntimes: Aide: Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.’s condition ‘more serious than we thought’ http://t.co/mrwJDJmn
— Craig Newman (@craignewman) July 5, 2012
is jesse jackson jr serious about not divulging why hospitalized? ability to serve impaired, he forfeits privacy. http://t.co/MdildkWi
— Jim Warren (@JimWarren55) July 6, 2012
Some find it hard to question the timing. The statement reportedly makes no mention of a timetable for Jackson’s return and extends his leave indefinitely.
https://twitter.com/Jarjarbug/status/220876119451254784
There’s clearly something weird going on with Jesse Jackson, Jr. http://t.co/NwVXrP4r via @theblaze I THINK HE'S GETTING #BLAGO's DISEASE
— #Censored Patriot نgardenofthegods (@gardenofthegods) July 6, 2012
https://twitter.com/patflong/status/221009237051064323
https://twitter.com/kat_vieuxmann/status/221064417826185217
https://twitter.com/Ramparts360/status/221058506797760513