Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.'s mother spoke Friday about questions surrounding her son, asking for privacy, prayers, and time to heal.
Jacqueline Jackson noted that her son had experienced "enormous disappointment" in recent years during a speech at the Operation PUSH conference.
"I'm not ashamed to say he thought he was going to be a senator," she said. "He thought he was going to have a chance to run for mayor, and young people don't bounce back from disappointment like me and my husband."
The younger Jackson's office announced Wednesday that he is currently receiving treatment for a mood disorder.
He is under an ethics investigation in the U.S. house in a probe focusing on accusations that he discussed fund raising for former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich's campaign in exchange for an appointment to President Obama's vacated senate seat. Jackson has denied those claims.
"My son, because of the level of cynicism out here, people think that he's at my house." Mrs. Jackson said. "They've called me to see if he's at my house. My son is unwell, and he needs a moment to heal."
