Jesse Jackson Jr. Going Down? What Are The Odds?

With Thursday's revelations that Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. was indeed Candidate Number 5 in a complaint against disgraced Illinois Governor, Rod Blagojevich, a lot of people are asking Gambling911.com:  Are there odds available that Jesse Jackson Jr. will be going down (along with Blagojevich). 

The answer to that question, for now anyway, is "no", but leading the online oddsmakers at Sportsbook.com were considering the offering.

For his part, Jackson Jr. denies any wrong doing.

Jackson, a Democratic congressman from the South Side, held a news conference Wednesday in Washington to deny any involvement in Gov. Rod Blagojevich's alleged scheme to sell the Senate spot to the highest bidder. But the normally voluble Jackson declined to deviate from his script and take questions from reporters, and he did not directly address his status as the unidentified "Senate Candidate 5" in court documents in the case against Blagojevich.

Prosecutors allege that Blagojevich, who has the sole power to appoint President-elect Obama's successor, was secretly recorded expressing the belief that Candidate 5 would provide something "tangible up front" for the job. Blagojevich also was secretly recorded saying that an emissary from Candidate 5 had offered to raise $1 million if he appointed Candidate 5, officials said.

"I never sent a message or an emissary to the governor to make an offer, plead my case or propose a deal about a U.S. Senate seat, period," Jackson said.

Still, newly hired lawyer James Montgomery Sr. of Chicago said he could not rule out that such possibilities were discussed with Blagojevich by people who did not have his client's blessing.

"Politicians and fundraisers do some very strange things from time to time, and I wouldn't put it past someone to be purporting to represent Jesse without authority," Montgomery said.

"We will offer odds if there is enough demand," said Dave Stanley of Sportsbook.com.  The demand appeared to be high based on Gambling911.com initial assessments, however.

Christopher Costigan, Gambling911.com Publisher