Rev. Jesse Jackson Proud of Son For Coming Clean

Rev. Jesse Jackson is standing by his son.

A day after former Illinois Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. admitted in federal court to spending $750,000 of campaign funds for personal use, Rev. Jackson told MSNBC he's proud of the ex-congressman for accepting responsibility.

"I was so proud of him being forthright and truthful," Jackson said, "accepting responsibility for his actions and willing to accept the consequences of those actions. That is the dignity he embraces, and I support him in those efforts."

He described his son's struggle with bipolar disorder as a "long ordeal" and said hearing guilty pleas from his son and daughter-in-law made for "a very sad day."

Jesse Jackson Jr. pleaded guilty to charges of wire fraud, mail fraud and making false statements. His wife, Sandi Jackson, pleaded guilty to a charge of failing to claim about $600,000 on her income tax returns between 2005 and 2011.

Prosecutors said the couple's expenditures ran the gamut from a $4,000 cruise and $16,058.91 in gym expenses to a $4,000 Michael Jackson and Eddie Van Halen guitar and $14,513.42 in dry cleaning expenses.

Rev. Jackson said his son is still dealing with the effects of bipolar disorder and admitted his supporters and family missed the signs.

"We missed that. He kept serving his constituency well in Congress and kept relating to his family  very well," he said.

Jesse Jackson Jr. and Sandi Jackson are scheduled to be sentenced this summer. They could receive up to five years and three years, respectively, for the admitted misconduct.