Jackson's wife won't discuss his condition

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CHICAGO, June 27 (UPI) -- The wife of U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., D-Ill., refused Wednesday to speak about his condition or where he's been during his medical leave from Congress.

Sandi Jackson, a Chicago city alderman, spoke to reporters at City Hall in her first comments since her husband's office said Monday he had taken medical leave two weeks ago, but she took no questions, the Chicago Tribune reported.

"I think it's important to say that I love my husband very much. That's the first thing," she said. "The second thing is, as a wife, my primary concern is that of my children. I just want to make sure they're taken care of and provided for. And we're just going to continue doing the good work that we're doing here in the city of Chicago."

She then thanked those who prayed for her, her husband and her children.

The 47-year-old congressman's office announced Monday he had been on medical leave the past two weeks and is being treated for exhaustion.

Frank Watkins, a spokesman for the congressman, told the Tribune the office had not disclosed the leave earlier because of a "family request."

Last week, Raghuveer Nayak, a friend of Jackson, was arrested on federal fraud charges. The charges involved Nayak's surgical centers. Nayak had been at the center of the U.S. Senate seat scandal that led to former Gov. Rod Blagojevich being sent to prison.

Chicago attorney Paul Langer, one of Jackson's lawyers, said he doesn't know where Jackson is but that he "is suffering from exhaustion."

"I can tell you unequivocally [the leave] has nothing to do with the arrest of Mr. Nayak," Langer said.

The House Ethics Committee is investigating allegations Nayak offered Blagojevich up to $6 million in campaign funds to make Jackson President Barack Obama's successor in the U.S. Senate.

Jackson had denied he knew of fund-raising in exchange for the appointment.