Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. reflected on his son’s bipolar disorder diagnosis before a hearing Wednesday, in which former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) and his wife Sandi face sentencing for crimes including squandering $750,000 in campaign funds.
“I don’t know how I missed so many signs,” Rev. Jackson told reporters, as quoted by the Chicago Tribune. “We found out he was sick very late. We thought we almost lost him. He was in a different place altogether.”
“He was very sick,” Rev. Jackson continued, dismissing speculation that Jackson Jr., who left Congress in June 2012 on a medical leave of absence, may have been “faking it.” He recounted that for a period of time his son refused to drink water because he worried it was dirty, according to the Tribune.
