Love child leak puts Jesse Jackson out

By MARY DEJEVSKY

The leader of America's black civil rights movement, the Rev Jesse Jackson, has quit public life after admitting that he fathered an illegitimate child.

Mr Jackson's decision to leave his ministry came days before he was to lead one of the main Inauguration Day protests against the results of the presidential election.

A torrent of accusations of hypocrisy engulfed Mr Jackson after his admission, prompted by revelations in a tabloid magazine, National Enquirer. The magazine estimated that he had spent $US600,000 ($1.33 million) to support the mother and child on condition that the mother did not reveal the father's identity.

The expose has effectively decapitated what remains of the black civil rights movement just as it was enjoying a resurgence over a new and popular cause, the voting disparities in Florida.

National Enquirer named the woman as Karin Stanford, a former university teacher, who worked at the time for Mr Jackson's campaigning organisation, the Rainbow Coalition.

It said Mr Jackson was courting her at the same time as he was serving as spiritual counsellor to President Bill Clinton over his affair with Monica Lewinsky, and took her to the White House over the same period.

Ms Stanford, who now lives with her daughter in California, declined to comment beyond saying: "Jesse and I still have a very warm and close relationship."

National Enquirer said she received $US10,000 ($22,200) a month from Mr Jackson, and received a $US40,000 payment for "moving expenses" when she took maternity leave from his Washington campaign office.

The financial arrangement reportedly included a written undertaking by Ms Stanford not to reveal the identity of the baby's father.

In his admission, Mr Jackson said: "I am father to a daughter who was born outside my marriage. As her mother does, I love this child very much and have assumed responsibility for her emotional and financial support since she was born.

"This is no time for evasions, denials or alibis. I fully accept responsibility and I am truly sorry for my actions."

National Enquirer said that when Mr Jackson's wife of 38 years, Jackie, learned of the relationship, she turned up at his Washington offices. "She screamed at Karin that she'd raised Jesse's children and had been at his side through really tough times ... She accused Karin of getting pregnant on purpose."

The magazine said Mr Jackson admitted paternity only after a DNA test. He is now estranged from his wife and five children.

- HERALD CORRESPONDENT