Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL) speaks to the press on Capitol Hill in Washington on December 10, 2008. (UPI Photo/Alexis C. Glenn) | License Photo

CHICAGO, Dec. 12 (UPI) -- A fundraiser for Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich was held to encourage the governor to name Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. to a vacant senate seat, attendees said.

Businessmen with ties to both the Illinois congressman and Blagojevich, accused of trying to sell President-elect Barack Obama's U.S. Senate seat, discussed raising at least $1 million for Blagojevich's campaign to push Jackson's selection, the Chicago Tribune reported Friday.


Two businessmen who attended an October lunch meeting told the Tribune that businessman and Blagojevich supporter Raghuveer Nayak and Blagojevich aide Rajinder Bedi told attendees the fundraising effort was aimed at supporting Jackson's bid for the Senate.

That meeting led to a Blagojevich fundraiser Saturday, co-sponsored by Nayak and attended by Blagojevich and Jackson's brother, Jonathan, several people who attended the event told the Tribune.

Blagojevich and Jackson met to discuss the Senate seat on Monday, the day before federal prosecutors arrested Blagojevich and charged him with trying to peddle Obama's Senate seat among other things.

In accompanying documentation, prosecutors alleged Blagojevich was considering awarding the seat to "Senate Candidate 5" because emissaries for the candidate pledged to raise more than $1 million for Blagojevich's campaign fund. Jackson later was identified as "Senate Candidate 5."

The congressman has denied knowing about emissaries or promises to raise funds in exchange for the seat. He said he was contacted by federal prosecutors and agreed to meet with them.

Jackson spokesman Rick Bryant Thursday called Nayak a Jackson "family friend and supporter."

Jackson's attorney, James Montgomery, said he couldn't rule out that such discussions occurred by people who didn't have his client's blessing.