WASHINGTON--Rep. Jesse Jackson (D-Ill.) returned to federal court in Chicago on Monday--not to testify in a Blagojevich trial (that's the reason for his last visit)--but to accept an invitation from the chief judge to talk to judicial staff about looming federal budget cuts. Read Chicago Sun-Times federal court reporter Natasha Korecki on the Jackson visit HERE.

From Korecki: All the members of the Illinois delegation were invited; Jackson was the only one who accepted.

"But as it goes for Jackson these days, he couldn't escape Blagojevich questions.

"The congressman, who faces a House ethics inquiry, said he looked forward to going through the scrutiny and in response to a Robert Blagojevich salvo last month, said he doesn't know the man."