Last week Illinois Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. was treated for what his office called "exhaustion." Today a representative said that his condition has deteriorated and that the Democratic member of Congress and son of civil rights activist Jesse Jackson is suffering from "physical and emotional ailments" that will require extended medical treatment, the Washington Post reports.
"Recently, we have been made aware that he has grappled with certain physical and emotional ailments privately for a long period of time," the statement reads. "At present, he is undergoing further evaluation and treatment at an in-patient medical facility. According to the preliminary diagnosis from his doctors, Congressman Jackson will need to receive extended in-patient treatment as well as continuing medical treatment thereafter. We ask that you keep Congressman Jackson and his family in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult period."
Jackson is a 17-year congressman who defeated former congresswoman Debbie Halvorson in a primary in March in a new district that stretched into more rural areas of the Chicagoland area that Halvorson used the represent …
Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), Jackson's Chicago colleague, told The Post's Ed O'Keefe recently that he thought the ups and downs of congressional life merely got to Jackson.
"The man said that he is exhausted; even Christ has to step away from the multitudes in order to refresh," Rush said. “He is very wise to do that.
"To me, it's not a big thing. His health is what's more important right now."
Democratic strategist David Heller, who worked on Jackson's 1995 special election campaign and his 2012 primary, said the congressman didn't seem exahusted during the campaign.
The Post notes that, because of his heavily Democratic district, Jackson can likely be reelected even if he's not able to dedicate himself fully to campaigning, but we're sure for the Congressman, his family, and the civil rights community, that issue pales in comparison to more pressing concerns about his health.
Read more at the Washington Post.