Jackson Jr.: Gov may have sought revenge

CHICAGO, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., contends Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich may have sought revenge on him when he reneged on a 2002 contribution, sources say.

Jackson has told federal investigators looking into corruption allegations against the governor that after the congressman allegedly failed to deliver on a $25,000 re-election campaign contribution demand from Blagojevich, the governor exacted revenge by refusing to name Jackson's wife as Illinois state lottery director, sources told WLS-TV, Chicago.

The Washington Post reported Wednesday that the television report surfaced just as a special impeachment committee of the Illinois Legislature was being assembled and Blagojevich's attorney said the embattled governor had no intentions of resigning.

Jackson has not been accused of any wrongdoing by U.S. attorneys who are seeking to indict Blagojevich for, among other charges, allegedly trying to trade U.S. President-elect Barack Obama's vacant Senate seat for campaign contributions and personal favors.

Jackson's name surfaced on FBI tapes of Blagojevich telling an adviser that emissaries from Jackson were willing to raise $1.5 million for the governor's campaign coffers if Jackson was appointed to Obama's seat. Jackson says he sought the Senate seat honestly and knew of no plan to influence Blagojevich, the Post reported.