The U.S. Marshals Service has called off an auction of former Congressman Jesse Jackson, Jr.’s music and movie memorabilia after questions over the items’ authenticity.
A guitar signed by Michael Jackson and Eddie Van Halen was initially supposed to be one of 13 items sold by the U.S. Marshals to repay $750,000 in campaign funds illegally spent by Jackson, Jr. But when the auction went live on Monday, only a dozen items were included and on Friday, the rest of the movie posters, signed records and cashmere capes being sold were completely removed from the auction site.
“After receiving legitimate concerns about the authenticity of the guitar purportedly signed by Michael Jackson and Eddie Van Halen and out of an abundance of caution, the Marshals Service will conduct a secondary review of all the assets,” the U.S. Marshals Service said in a statement. “Once the review is complete, a decision will be made whether to repost any assets for sale by auction.”
Jackson, Jr. has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for misusing campaign funds and has been given until around Nov. 1 to begin his sentence.