CHICAGO , July 13, 2012 – Ever since U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr.’s puzzling month-long leave of absence, he has been the talk of the political water cooler set. His office’s announcement this week that the congressman is suffering from a “mood disorder” has also not stopped political tongues from wagging.

His representatives have not been forthcoming about what kind of disorder Jackson is suffering from, where he is being treated or when – or if – he plans to return to his official duties as a congressman.

Citing privacy concerns, members of the Jackson family have also not been forthcoming about the details of the congressman’s mysterious mood disorder.

“I think the first thing that our family wants to do is protect his privacy, of course,” Jackson said in an recent interview. “You know, doctors have HIPPA standards that they have to obey. And I think that what we have to do is dial everything back and just give him the grace of space so that he can get well.”

Mood disorders encompass a wide range of conditions – including bipolar disorders, mania, and depression.

But there are other types of mood disorders that are not as treatable:

Rezko-ism.

Blagojevich Fever.

Bimbo-itis.

Last year, I had a chance encounter with the congressman and questioned him about whether he attempted to pay for Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate seat and about his alleged mistress Giovana Huidobro.

In retrospect, the congressman was just as “mysterious” and evasive in his responses as he is now.

Were the signs of strain evident even then?

But recent events might have also had an impact on the congressman’s frail condition.

Just a few weeks ago, Jackson’s fundraiser, Indian businessman Raghuveer Nayak was indicted on 19 counts of mail fraud, interstate travel in aid of racketeering and filing false income tax returns. Prosecutors are seeking $1.8 million in “alleged fraud proceeds,” including forfeiture of Nayak’s Oak Brook home.

Nayak has pleaded not guilty.

This is the same Nayak, who, according to federal prosecutors, promised to raise $1 million for Gov. Blagojevich if he appointed Jackson to the vacant U.S. Senate seat.

According to feds, a meeting was supposedly set up between Nayak and Blagojevich’s brother to discuss the dirty deal. But when news broke that a Blagojevich aide was wired, the meeting was “mysteriously” cancelled.

Nayak also paid for DC restaurant hostess Huidobro to be flown in for a visit with the married congressman.

Jackson is currently under investigation by the House Ethics Committee and chances are the final report may not reflect positively on the congressman’s character.

If all this isn’t enough to give an ethically-challenged Illinois congressman a “mood disorder,” nothing will. 

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