A Jackson family friend said Friday the former Congressman "got carried away" in office. (Photo courtesy of Flickr/chicagopublicmedia)

By Beth Whisman

BLOOMINGTON - U.S. Rep. Adam Kinzinger (R-IL) said Monday he was disappointed to see another Illinois lawmaker admitting to corruption charges, bringing more national attention to the state's troubled political history.

Federal prosecutors on Friday charged former Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr. with conspiracy for allegedly spending $750,000 in campaign money on personal expenses. The Chicago Democrat's wife, former alderman Sandra Jackson, was charged with filing false joint federal income tax returns. They both agreed to plead guilty.

"Boy it sure appears he crossed the line there. We are held to a very high standard as we should be, and it appears he's getting ready to pay his due," said Kinzinger Monday.

PODCAST: Listen to Rep. Adam Kinzinger on WJBC with host Jim Fitzpatrick

The Rev. Jesse Jackson said his son is under strict medical supervision as he struggles with bipolar disorder "compounded by the stresses" of his legal troubles.

Kinzinger said Jackson Jr.'s case is proof that his colleagues in Washington care about ethics.

"It should be a reminder to everybody in public office -- and frankly to the American people -- that their government takes issues of corruption very seriously," Kinzinger added.

Schock Ethics Investigation

He didn't have much to say about the ethics investigation surrounding fellow Republican Rep. Aaron Schock.

"I don't have anything to do with the investigation (other than) just having been named because of circumstance," he said. "But. we are not involved in the investigation at all."

Schock is accused of soliciting a $25,000 contribution last March from House Majority Leader Eric Cantor's political action committee to back Kinzinger's last campaign. Federal law prohibits contributions of more than $5,000.

Schock has denied any wrongdoing.

Beth Whisman can be reached at whisman@wjbc.com.