Jesse Jackson Jr. Plea Deal: Source Says Disgraced Ex-Congressman's Deal Includes 'Significant' Jail Time

As the trouble train rolls on for former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., new reports indicate the disgraced ex-congressman could be headed for an extended stay behind bars.

Jackson and the federal authorities investigating the former representative's alleged misuse of campaign funds are said to have a plea deal in the works, the Sun-Times exclusively reported late Wednesday.

“Significant jail time is now definitely a part of the deal,” a top source told the Sun-Times.

As NBC Chicago notes, word of Jackson's plea deal comes just days after the news broke that feds were looking in to the campaign finances of his wife, former Chicago Ald. Sandi Jackson, in an independent investigation.

A second source told the Sun-Times, “...I think [Jackson’s wife] Sandi, feels like she was thrown under the bus by her husband, ” now that a separate probe has begun on her.

Sandi Jackson acknowledged to NBC back last December that there was a $69,000 discrepancy between campaign finance reports issued by her office and her husband's office; she blamed the issue on clerical errors.

Sandi Jackson, who represented the city's 7th Ward, abruptly resigned from her post last month despite previous denials that she was quitting the City Council.

Some investigations believe Jackson Jr. was tipped off to the probe coming his way prior to taking his leave of absence in Congress, according to Politico. In his resignation letter, Jackson acknowledged the federal investigation.

Sandi Jackson, meanwhile, made no mention of any federal probe in her January resignation from Chicago's City Council, citing instead family and personal matters as contributing factors to her decision.