Barack Obama’s mentor, Emil Jones, will announce his resignation from the Illinois State Senate today, according to the Chicago Tribune. The Tribune describes Obama as Jones’ protege.

Rumors are floating that Jones is wrapped up in a criminal investigation. We will keep you updated… We have written about his own private slush fund in the past.

In the meantime, here’s what you need to know about the relationship between Jones and Obama:

So how has Obama repaid Jones?

Last June, to prove his commitment to government transparency, Obama released a comprehensive list of his earmark requests for fiscal year 2008. It comprised more than $300 million in pet projects for Illinois, including tens of millions for Jones’s Senate district.

Shortly after Jones became Senate president, I remember asking his view on pork-barrel spending.

I’ll never forget what he said:

“Some call it pork; I call it steak.”