A fund-raiser for Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. told federal authorities that the congressman authorized him to offer then-Gov. Rod Blagojevich $6 million in campaign contributions in exchange for Jackson’s appointment to the Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama.

The Chicago Sun-Times reports:

Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. directed a major political fund-raiser to offer former Gov. Rod Blagojevich millions of dollars in campaign cash in return for an appointment to the U.S. Senate, sources said the fund-raiser has told federal authorities.

The allegation by Oak Brook businessman Raghuveer Nayak counters public statements made as recently as last week by Jackson that he never authorized any deal to attempt to buy the Senate seat.