Law enforcement officials revealed that Jesse Jackson, Jr is Senate Candiate #5 in the Gov. Blago indictment. Per NBC News:

A law enforcement official confirms that the person referred to in the federal criminal complaint against Gov. Rod Blagojevich as “Candidate 5″ is Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. 

However, federal officials caution that they have no evidence, other than statements made by Blagojevich, about whether Candidate 5 actually made any improper approaches to the governor. No conversations with Candidate 5 were ever picked up on any of the bugs or wiretaps.

The gist of the allegation is that Senate Candidate #5 offered up to one million dollars for President-elect Obama’s former senate seat.  JJ held a press conference this afternoon and made clear that he’s not a “target” of the investigation and denounced pay for play politics.

Quick legal point that makes me pause: Jackson stated that the US Attorney informed him that he’s not a “target” of the investigation.  “Target” in fed terms means that you’re about to be indicted and best call some legal counsel with the quickness. And stop talking unles you repeatedly state “I take the Fifth” or “I need a lawyer and have nothing else to say.”  Compare that to a subject of an investigation, who is under investigation, but could become a target.

In other words, JJ is not in the clear as of yet, and if the Feds can back up Gov. Blago’s statements, JJ may have more pressing issues than how he’s still going to grab that Senate seat on the auction block.

As promised, more on this tomorrow morning . . . .