Confusion on Chicago Stations as Jesse Jackson Jr. is Turned Away From Prison

By Merrill Knox 

The big story in Chicago today is former Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr., who reported to federal prison in North Carolina Monday afternoon. In a strange twist, Jackson — who was four days early to start serving his 30 month sentence — was turned away from the prison yesterday before he was officially admitted this morning.

On Monday’s late newscasts, only WLS reporter Ben Bradley correctly reported that “a paperwork problem means he’s not technically in custody.” NBC owned WMAQ, Fox owned WFLD and CBS owned WBBM all reported Jackson had begun his sentence.

“He was given his sheets, he was given his clothes, he was searched, and he was forced to do a body cavity search, which is the most demeaning thing that could happen to an individual,” WBBM legal analyst Irv Miller told reporter Jay Levine(watch after the jump).

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The stations walked back the accounts of Jackson’s surrender on the morning newscasts this morning, after The Chicago Tribune reported that prison officials said he was not in custody.

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