He may have easily won re-election Tuesday night, but Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. may also be working on a plea deal with federal authorities who are looking into his alleged misuse of campaign funds.
Chicago Sun-Times gossip columnist Michael Sneed, citing an unnamed source, published word of the plea deal late Wednesday, and said Jackson may also have used campaign funds to buy a pricey watch for a female friend.
NBC Chicago was unsuccessful in reaching Jackson's office for comment late Wednesday, but the Sun-Times said spokesman Frank Watkins declined to comment.
Jackson continues to receive treatment for bipolar depression at the Mayo Clinic. He's been absent from Congress since late June and did very little campaigning for his 2nd Congressional seat. Still, he came with with 63 percent of the vote.
Federal prosecutors in October launched a criminal investigation of Jackson, Jr. involving financial improprieties, including possible misuse of funds monitored by Congress to decorate his Washington, D.C. Home.
That came on top of a continued U.S. House Ethics Committee investigation into Jackson's possible attempts at being appointed to now-President Barack Obama's vacated U.S. Senate seat.
