Report: Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. releases robocall, tells supporters 'I am human' 
 
 By Jonathan Easley - 
 
 The Chicago Sun Times is reporting that Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-Ill.) sent out an automated message to constituents in his district on Saturday, asking voters to stick by him through his recent spate of difficulties. 
 
 “Like many human beings, a series of events came together in my life at the same time and they have been difficult to sort through,” Jackson says in the call. “I am human. I am doing my best. I am trying to sort through them all.” 
 
 The Chicago Sun Times reported earlier in the day that Jackson is returning to the Mayo Clinic for treatment of bipolar depression. 
 
 That report cited an anonymous source who said the press made it impossible for Jackson to continue treatment while living at his home in Washington, D.C. 
 
 “Jesse wanted you to know he is finding it difficult to continue his treatment because the press is staking out his home and making access to his doctor, who is within a short walking distance from his home, incredibly hard,” the source said. 
 
 In June, Jackson took a leave of absence from Congress to be treated for the disorder. His office initially explained his absence as a break from stress and exhaustion, but later came forward to say the congressman actually was actually receiving treatment at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota for bipolar disorder. 
 
 “I am starting to heal,” Jackson says in the robocall. “The good news is my health is improving, but my doctors tell me the road to recovery is a long one.” 
 
 More recently, Jackson has returned to Washington, D.C., and continued receiving treatment. The lawmaker has not appeared on Capitol Hill since he returned, however, despite assurances from his office that he is running for reelection and intends to stay in Congress. 
 
 On Monday, The Wall Street Journal reported that federal investigators are conducting a criminal probe over allegations that he used campaign donations to decorate his house. 
 
 Despite his mounting troubles, most political analysts believe Jackson is a safe bet to win reelection next month in his highly Democratic district. 
 
 “For nearly 18 years I have served the people of the second district,” he continues in the robocall. “I am anxious to return to work on your behalf, but at this time it is against medical advice, and while I will always give my all to my constituents, I ask for your continued patience as I work to get my health back.” 
 
 --Daniel Strauss contributed to this report. 
 
 
 
 --This report was originally posted at 9:24 a.m. and last updated at 7:07 p.m. ||||| U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. headed back to Mayo Clinic in Minnesota BY MICHAEL SNEED Sun-Times Columnist 
 
 Jesse Jackson Jr. in 2008. (Photo by Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) 
 
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 Updated: 
 
 U.S. Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is heading back to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. — and was reportedly en route Friday evening. 
 
 A source said the decision was made to have the the South Shore Democrat return to the famed clinic, where he spent four weeks this summer for bipolar 
 
 depression. He had been staying at his home in Washington, D.C. since leaving Mayo. 
 
 A source who visited Jackson this week said, “Jesse wanted you to know he is finding it difficult to continue his treatment because the press is staking out his home and making access to his doctor, who is within a short walking distance from his home, incredibly hard.” 
 
 The source added that Jackson is trying “to stay focused and calm to enhance his treatment and is just following doctor’s orders.” 
 
 Jackson, who is up for reelection next month, announced in June he was taking a leave for medical for “exhaustation.” It was later disclosed he is suffering from bipolar depression. ||||| Congressman Jesse Jackson Jr. has been checked into the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn. for depression and gastrointestinal issues, according to a statement released by the clinic. (Source: WGN - Chicago) 
 
 Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. is at the Mayo Clinic in Minnesota “for extensive inpatient evaluation for depression and gastrointestinal issues,” according to a statement from Jackson sent late Friday by Rochester, Minn.-based Mayo. 
 
 
 
 Jackson’s whereabouts have been a mystery since he went on medical leave June 10. The statement issued Friday said the congressman “has arrived at Mayo Clinic,” but did not say where he came from. 
 
 
 
 Friday’s statement offers the most specific description yet of Jackson’s condition. When Jackson’s office first announced his medical leave two weeks after it began, it said the 17-year congressman was being treated for exhaustion. 
 
 
 
 Then on July 11, amid increasing calls for further disclosure, Jackson’s office issued a statement saying he was being treated for a “mood disorder” at an inpatient center, but again declined to be more specific. His staff cited federal medical privacy rules and declined to disclose any further information about where he was being treated, or for what, other than to deny that he was being treated for acohol or drug abuse. 
 
 
 
 Jackson, 47, is under a House Ethics Committee investigation into allegations that a longtime friend, Raghuveer Nayak, offered former Gov. Rod Blagojevich up to $6 million in campaign cash to appoint Jackson to President Barack Obama’s seat in the U.S. Senate. 
 
 
 
 Nayak was arrested in June on federal fraud charges involving his surgical centers. 
 
 
 
 Jackson has denied any knowledge of fundraising in exchange for the appointment. 
 
 
 
 The full text of the statement, which was confirmed by a Mayor Clinic spokeswoman: 
 
 
 
 "CongressmanJesse Jackson Jr. has arrived at Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., for extensive inpatient evaluation for depression and gastrointestinal issues. 
 
 
 
 "Further information will be released as Congressman Jackson's evaluation proceeds. 
 
 
 
 "Congressman Jackson and his family are grateful for the outpouring of support and prayers that have been received throughout his care. 
 
 
 
 "NOTE: No additional updates are expected this weekend." 
 
 
 
 On Saturday, Jackson's father, the Rev. Jesse Jackson, didn't address his son's situation during the Rainbow PUSH Coalition's weekly meeting. 
 
 But in a brief interview after the meeting, he asked people to pray for his son. 
 
 "The Mayo statement speaks for itself," Jackson said when asked if he had any updates about his son's condition. 
 
 "We're glad he's getting outstanding medical care," he said. "He is in the process of regaining his strength, and we urge that people pray for him and be sensitive in his regaining of his strength." 
 
 Jackson said he's talked with his son lately but declined to describe those conversations. He also declined to say where his son was treated before he was admitted to the Mayo Clinic.
– If it looked like Jesse Jackson Jr. was on track to getting his bipolar depression under control and heading back to Congress, this might suggest otherwise: The Chicago-Sun Times says Jackson is returning to the Mayo Clinic for treatment because constant media scrutiny made progress in Chicago impossible. Despite his struggles, the Hill thinks he will still win re-election next month. All this comes on the heels of a Wall Street Journal report saying Jackson is under investigation for allegedly using campaign money to decorate his house.