Watergate Figure Charles Colson in grave condition

The Washington Post is reporting that Charles Colson, best known for being President Richard Nixon's special counsel and spending several months in jail on Watergate-based charges is in grave condition after undergoing brain surgery weeks ago.

Colson, 80, became a born-again Christian after his time in prison, and is an advocate of ministering to prison inmates, The Washington Post reports. Jim Liske, chief executive of Landsdowne-based Prison Fellowship Ministries, issued a statement saying Colson will soon be home with the lord," the Seattle PI reports. Liske said that Colson had been showing some signs of recovery, but that his condition had been deteriorating since Tuesday. "Chuck's condition took a decided turn yesterday, and the doctor's advised Patty (Colson's wife), and the family to gather by his bedside," Liske said. Colson had brain surgery earlier this month to remove a bloodclot after becoming ill March 30th while speaking at a conference, The Washington Post reports. According to Colson's official biography, he admits he was guilty of political "dirty tricks" and says he was "willing to do almost anything for the cause of his president and his party." Not long after Colson's release from prison, he founded Prison Fellowship, which calls itself the "world's largest outreach to prisoners, ex-prisoners, and their families." Prison Fellowship has a presence in 113 countries, CNN reports.