Local Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. Taking Medical Leave of Absence by Gary Kopycinski on June 25, 2012 Gary Kopycinski Author More in Local: Park Forest’s Sandra Zoellner Retires After 21 Years of Service June 17, 2026 Save the date for The Prairie Party at theNate June 17, 2026 Governors State Has New Soccer Complex and New Men’s Coach June 17, 2026 CHICAGO—(ENEWSPF)—June 25, 2012. ABC 7 Chicago is reporting that Representative Jesse Jackson, Jr. is taking a medical leave of absence. According to the report, the Congressman is being treated for exhaustion.