Feds want to know what Rep. Jackson knows

CHICAGO, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- Federal officials say they want to talk to U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. about "pay-to-play" allegations in the scandal surrounding the Illinois governor.

Jackson, the Illinois congressman and son of civil rights leader the Rev. Jesse Jackson, has denied any wrongdoing in the federal corruption probe of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, accused of trying to peddle President-elect Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat among other things.

Jackson said he is to meet with investigators, possibly as early as Friday, the Chicago Sun-Times reported.

Transcripts of wiretaps released Tuesday when Blagojevich was arrested include an exchange in which Blagojevich talks about an "emissary of Senate Candidate 5" offering to raise at least $1 million in campaign contributions for the governor in exchange for being appointed to the vacant seat, sources told the Sun-Times. Jackson has identified himself as the "Senate Candidate 5" listed in Blagojevich's criminal complaint.

Jackson on Wednesday denied sending "a message or an emissary" or offering a deal for the seat and that federal investigators told him he wasn't a target of an investigation. Jackson said he met with Blagojevich Monday to discuss his qualifications for the seat.

A source in Blagojevich's camp told the Sun-Times Thursday that representatives of Jackson approached Blagojevich's brother and campaign finance chairman about the open seat.

The "emissary" hasn't been identified. Jackson's father said in a statement Thursday he isn't the person.