Making his first public appearance in several months, former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) attended a gathering of the Rainbow PUSH Coalition on Saturday in Chicago.
Jackson Jr. did not speak at the gathering, but his attorney and father, Rev. Jesse Jackson, both alluded to the case surrounding the disgraced former congressman, who plead guilty in February to federal charges for misusing campaign funds.
“We’ve kept a very low profile, not much of a comment, we have not wanted to interfere in any way with the legal process,” Rev. Jesse Jackson said, as quoted by ABC 7. “Our family loves Jesse Jr. very much. We stand with him, we love him very much.”
Jackson Jr.’s attorney, C.K. Hoffler, urged the judge presiding over the ex-lawmaker’s sentencing to grant leniency. Sentencing in Jackson Jr.’s case is scheduled for June.
“Our judge needs to know, needs to understand, the character and the qualities of this extraordinary congressman,” Hoffler said. “This is the time to let the judge know how important he is to you.”
