(African-American) Congressman Fattah Says He'll Fight New Subpoena

[The Bobster]

http://www.myfoxphilly.com/story/24966030/us-rep-fattah-says-hell-fight-subpoena

Congressman Fattah Says He'll Fight New Subpoena
Posted: Mar 13, 2014 11:40 AM EDT
Updated: Mar 13, 2014 11:43 AM EDT

HARRISBURG, Pa. - U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, a Philadelphia Democrat, said a subpoena seeking documents from his congressional offices encroaches on the constitutional and legal rights of a congressman and he will fight it.

Fattah submitted a letter Tuesday to the Congressional Record informing House Speaker John Boehner of the subpoena issued by the U.S. District Court in Philadelphia. Under the U.S. House's internal rules, members are required to promptly inform the House speaker of any subpoena they receive.

In the three-sentence letter, Fattah did not describe the documents that are being sought by the subpoena or whether it is related to a criminal investigation.

He said he will try to quash the subpoena's request for documents that he believes are not "material and relevant," and that are not "consistent with the privileges and rights of the House."

Otherwise, he said he would comply with the subpoena's other requests that meet those thresholds.

A spokeswoman for U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger in Philadelphia said Thursday that the office does not confirm or deny the existence of any investigation.

Fattah's lawyer, Luther E. Weaver III of Philadelphia, declined to comment Thursday on the subpoena.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that, last fall, Memeger's office requested records of city property taxes and utility bills for Fattah's home in the East Falls section of Philadelphia. Weaver said at the time that the subpoenas were part of an investigation that had begun about seven years ago, the Inquirer reported.

On Thursday, Weaver declined comment on those subpoenas or any broader investigation of Fattah. He also declined to comment on whether the latest subpoena of congressional records is related to an investigation of Fattah.

Fattah, 57, entered Congress in 1995 and is a member of the powerful House Appropriations Committee. He is running for an 11th term in the U.S. House this year.

The Inquirer has reported that federal investigators in recent years have focused on grants, or earmarks, that Fattah sponsored for nonprofit organizations run by his former congressional staff aides. Some officials from those groups have told the Inquirer that investigators interviewed them.

In October, FOX 29 Investigative Reporter Jeff Cole asked the long-time congressman about a document that showed the FBI was seeking his tax records.

 

[Whitebear]

Re: Congressman Fattah Says He'll Fight New Subpoena

US Rep. Fattah Says He'll Fight Subpoena

U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, a Philadelphia Democrat,

 

[The Bobster]

Re: Congressman Fattah Says He'll Fight New Subpoena

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/269968871.html

Son of U.S. Rep Surrenders to Feds
Tuesday, Aug 5, 2014 • Updated at 10:08 AM EDT

Chaka Fattah Jr., the son of Philadelphia Congressman Chaka Fattah, turned himself into federal authorities Tuesday morning.

A 32-page indictment charges Fattah Jr. with 23 counts including wire fraud, bank fraud, tax fraud and filing false statements over a period of time from 2005 to 2012. The indictment alleges Fattah used the stolen money for his personal use including gambling debts at Sugarhouse Casino.

Fattah Jr. told NBC10 that he couldn't comment on the charges against him as he surrendered in Center City Philadelphia.

Prosecutors are not holding any press conference about the case as was originally reported.

The FBI has had an ongoing investigation of Fattah Jr. for more than two years centering around Fattah Jr.'s consulting firm and alleged payments from an education firm.

Fattah Jr. is scheduled to appear in court Tuesday afternoon. He faces up to $13 million and prison time if convicted on all counts, according to prosecutors.

Fattah, Jr. is the stepson of NBC10 news anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah.

 

[The Bobster]

Re: Congressman Fattah Says He'll Fight New Subpoena

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2014/08/05/chaka-fattah-jr-in-federal-custody-charged-with-fraud/

Son of US Rep. Chaka Fattah Charged With Fraud, Freed On Bail
August 5, 2014 5:30 PM
By Tony Hanson and Walt Hunter

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Chaka Fattah Jr. is now free after signing his own bond, following his indictment on charges of financial fraud and wrongdoing including filing false tax returns, making false bank statements to get loans, and cheating the Philadelphia School District through inflated invoices from a company he owned that provided educational services.

Chaka Fattah Jr., the son of US representative Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.), turned himself in to federal investigators Tuesday morning.

Fattah Jr. is charged in a federal indictment with multiple counts, in a scheme the indictment says was intended to defraud banks and the IRS of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

He is charged with bank fraud, making false statements to obtain loans, making false statements to settle loans, and income tax evasion, as well as wire fraud and theft from the Philadelphia School District, which had received federal funds.

Authorities say he held himself out as owner and founder of a number entrepreneurial enterprises and used funds from business lines of credit for personal expenses including car payments, food, jewelry, restaurant and club expenses, utilities, clothing, electronics, retail purchases, and charitable donations.

One of the indictment’s introduction paragraphs states that Fattah Jr. obtained a $50,000 line of credit for a company he owns, 259 Strategies, intended to be used for “working capital to support business operations,” but only days after the loan was approved Fattah Jr. spent $17,500 of that to pay gambling debts at SugarHouse casino.

The indictment was unsealed early this morning. Fattah Jr. made his initial appearance in court later in the day. He did not enter a plea and was released on bail pending his next hearing.

Fattah Jr.’s properties were raided by federal authorities back in 2012. He filed a suit against the government in connection with allegations against him earlier this year.

“I am innocent ,” Fattah Jr. told reporters shortly after leaving the Federal Courthouse where he had surrendered on the charges early Tuesday morning.

Fattah Jr. called the prosecution “political”, his father, Congressman Chaka Fattah, saying, in an emailed statement he had “concerns about the administration of justice” in the case. The Congressman also stated he believed his son would “clear his name”.

Congressman Fattah released the following statement about the allegations against his son:

“Assistant United States Attorney Paul L. Gray and FBI Special Agent Richard J. Haag and their involvement in the charging of my son raise concerns about the fair administration of justice in this case. With these charges we have now moved from speculation to specific allegations. This will bring the matter closer to a day in which my son can defend himself in court and I am confident the facts will clear his name. I have full confidence in my son; I love him and stand by him today and every day.”

Fattah Jr. says he knows his father fully supports him, and when asked if he were concerned about his father not attending his first court appearance, replied that his father was busy with constituents’ needs.

The Philadelphia School District also issued a statement that reads, in part, “if these allegations prove to be true, we are very troubled that vendors would take advantage of the School District and its students particularly in such difficult financial times.”

 

[The Bobster]

Re: Congressman Fattah Says He'll Fight New Subpoena

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2014/08/06/fattah-jr-on-charges-against-him-its-a-political-thing/

Chaka Fattah, Jr. On Charges Against Him: ‘It’s A Political Thing’
August 6, 2014 11:28 AM

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Chris Stigall and Dom Giordano talked to Chaka Fattah, Jr., the son of Philadelphia Congressman Chaka Fattah, about his indictment on charges of fraud and tax evasion on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT.

Fattah said he is surprised by the charges and the attention they’ve garnered in the media.

“It’s a little surreal for me. In terms of why I talk about it; I don’t think I’ve done anything wrong. I understand there are a lot of allegations…I haven’t been convicted of anything. These are allegations in writing, all of which seem pretty ridiculous to me,” he said.

Fattah feels federal authorities have political motivations in filing these charges against him and it is an example of the government abusing its power.

“The people involved in the investigation are, I think — they’re primarily interested in potentially getting a promotion. Things like that, things that have nothing to do with doing their job. It’s a political thing…I really think it shows the individual Assistant U.S. Attorneys and, in some cases FBI Agents or IRS Agents, have really too much power over people’s lives. These charges, this took two and a half years. This is a multi-million dollar investigation into my life,” Fattah claimed.

Fattah does not believe the government has any real case against him.

“They’re overreaching…They’re talking primarily about some bank lines of credit from 2005. It’s August 2014. They’re essentially saying that over nine years ago, I came up with some kind of idea to cheat large corporations with multi-billion dollar budgets. It’s ridiculous. PNC Bank for example, they just make a fortune, so the idea that I could cheat them by applying for a line of credit, that doesn’t make any sense to me,” he stated.

 

[The Bobster]

Re: Congressman Fattah Says He'll Fight New Subpoena

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/20...uilty-could-testify-against-congressmans-son/

Friend of Chaka Fattah Jr. Pleads Guilty, Could Testify Against Congressman’s Son
August 11, 2014 3:21 PM
By Tony Hanson

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A friend and associate of Chip Fattah, the son of Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.), today pleaded guilty in federal court to conspiracy in a case that has also ensnared the younger Fattah.

Matthew Amato and Chaka Fattah Jr. (known to friends as “Chip”) were roommates for a couple of years between 2004- and 2006. Now, Amato has admitted he made false statements for bank loans in order to benefit Fattah Jr.

Fattah Jr. is charged with financial fraud, including filing false tax returns. Officials say he held himself out founder and owner of a number of entrepreneurial enterprises, using funds from business lines of credit for personal purposes, including car payments, food, jewelry, restaurant dining, and club expenses.

Fattah Jr. has categorically denied any wrongdoing and has pleaded not guilty.

But today, Amato, 31, admitted that he made false statements for bank loans and then funneled about $65,000 of that money to Fattah Jr. Because it is part of a plea agreement, Amato would be expected to testify against Fattah Jr. when that case comes up for trial.

 

[The Bobster]

Re: Congressman Fattah Says He'll Fight New Subpoena

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/20...t-guilty-plea-defers-comment-to-his-attorney/

Chaka Fattah Jr. Enters Not-Guilty Plea, Defers Comment to His Attorney
August 14, 2014 3:57 PM
By Tony Hanson

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Chaka Fattah Jr. formally pleaded not guilty in federal court today to charges of federal bank fraud, theft, and income tax evasion.

Fattah Jr., son of the congressman, had talked at length with reporters before and after last week’s court initial appearance, after the indictment against him was returned, proclaiming his innocence and claiming a political motivation.

But this time, after pleading not guilty to all the charges against him, Fattah turned to counsel.

(Fattah “My lawyer, James McHugh, from the public defender’s office, has a statement. All right, James…”

(McHugh “At today’s arraignment, Chaka Fattah Jr. entered his plea of not guilty to each and every count in the indictment , and he’s looking forward to his day in court at the time of trial.”

But Fattah Jr. did say he stands by his earlier statements. He is currently free on bail.

 

[The Bobster]

Re: Congressman Fattah Says He'll Fight New Subpoena

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/20...raud-cover-up-in-philadelphia-mayor-campaign/

Fattah Aide Pleads Guilty To Attempted Fraud Cover Up In Philadelphia Mayor Campaign
August 27, 2014 4:03 PM
By Pat Loeb

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – A long-time aide to Congressman Chaka Fattah has pleaded guilty to attempting to conceal campaign finance fraud on behalf of an unnamed elected official.

Campaign consultant and former Fattah Chief of Staff Gregory Naylor pleaded guilty to three counts — including falsifying invoices to a 2007 Philadelphia mayoral campaign in order to cover up the theft of $193,000 in federal funds and putting the unnamed elected official’s son on his payroll to cover up the use of campaign funds to pay off the son’s student loans.

Both prosecutors and Naylor’s defense attorney declined to comment on the charges, but Naylor worked on congressman Fattah’s run for mayor in 2007 and the congressman’s son has also been charged in a federal indictment.

Repeated attempts to reach Fattah at both his offices by phone and email were unsuccessful.

 

[The Bobster]

Re: Congressman Fattah Says He'll Fight New Subpoena

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news...ah-Denies-Criminal-Wrongdoing--274075071.html

Congressman Fattah Denies Criminal Wrongdoing
Congressman Chaka Fattah, who has not been charged, raised questions about his accusers.
Friday, Sep 5, 2014 • Updated at 8:15 AM EDT
Tom MacDonald | NewsWorks.org

September 4, 2014: Philadelphia Congressman Chaka Fattah denies any wrongdoing while at the Dilworth Park ribbon-cutting ceremony.

A Philadelphia congressman who appears to be in the sights of federal prosecutors is denying all wrongdoing.

Democratic U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah has been quiet about a former colleague's guilty plea and a court filing accusing Fattah of orchestrating a secret loan to his 2007 campaign for Philadelphia mayor and then stealing federal funds to repay the loan.

Fattah has declined WHYY interview requests but at the opening of Dilworth Park Thursday, he denied committing a crime.

"I've been an elected official for decades. In none of my years as an elected official have I ever been involved in any illegal conduct — period," he said. "It's been, as we well, know widely investigated for seven years. We will all have to wait and see how this unfolds as we go forward."

Fattah, who has not been charged, raised questions about his accusers.

"If we are looking for illegal or improper activity, some might want to question whether there is any illegal activity in this investigation," he said. "Whether the people who are pursuing these allegations are doing anything wrong ... because I think there is ample reason to believe that, in their zest, that they may have crossed the line."

A representative of the U.S. Attorney's office, which announced the guilty plea by Fattah's colleague and released a memo outlining his alleged wrongdoing, would not confirm the congressman is under investigation.

Fattah is married to NBC10 anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah.

 

[Newsman]

Bad Rep: Does Filthydelphia Democratic power-broker Chaka Fattah run a crime family?

http://www.nationalreview.com/article/387685/bad-rep-jillian-kay-melchior

September 11, 2014

In late August, a great crack resounded across Philadelphia’s Democratic establishment when Gregory Naylor, a prominent political consultant, entered a guilty plea in federal court, implicating not only himself but also a U.S. congressman and several of his key allies in a sordid and complex fraud scheme involving taxpayer dollars and campaign finances.

The plea memorandum mentions only “Elected Official A,” but numerous details corroborate the identity of Representative Chaka Fattah, one of the most powerful men in Philadelphia. The son of a vocal Black Nationalist ravda: :african: activist, Fattah cut his teeth in politics in the late 1970s at just 22 years old, running with a friend for election to the city commission. Though he lost that election, Fattah learned a valuable lesson about political organization and spent the subsequent decades building one of the most effective political machines in Philly, an effort that eventually won him not only local prestige but also 10 terms in Congress.

Naylor and Fattah have dominated the African-American faction of Philadelphia’s Democratic ravda: party and “have, for years, been major figures in the political discussion here, recognized for their ability to determine the outcome of races,” says Dan Fee, a political consultant who has worked for Ed Rendell, the former governor, and other major Pennsylvania candidates.

Furthermore, as a senior member of the House Appropriations Committee, which manages more than $1 trillion in federal discretionary spending, Fattah excelled at bringing the federal bacon home to Philadelphia. “I think probably Chaka was more successful at delivering to his constituents than any number of congressmen — certainly [he is] the most successful in Philadelphia, or the Pennsylvania delegation, for that matter,” says Carl Singley, the former dean of Temple University Law School.

Now, after Naylor’s guilty plea, many of Philadelphia’s top Democrats see the congressman as vulnerable. A surprisingly juicy read, the plea memorandum details the alleged misdeeds not only of Fattah but also of several other political big shots who supported him.

“My God, [the feds] must have had an awful lot of stuff for Greg Naylor to dime out Chaka Fattah just like that,” says Jim Foster, the publisher of the Germantown Chronicle and a longtime observer of Philadelphia politics who mounted a symbolic challenge against Fattah two years ago, winning 1.4 percent of the vote as an independent.

 

[The Bobster]

Re: Congressman Fattah Says He'll Fight New Subpoena

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/20...-of-chaka-fattah-pleads-guilty-to-corruption/

Another Former Employee of Chaka Fattah Pleads Guilty to Corruption
November 5, 2014 2:16 PM
By Tony Hanson

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — One day after being re-elected to another term in Congress, US Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.) has been again implicated in a public corruption case.

Although not specifically named, Fattah is linked to the ongoing federal investigation by two people who used to work for him.

Washington DC political consultant Thomas Lindenfeld pleaded guilty today and agreed to cooperate with authorities in the investigation of, among other things, an illegal $1-million political contribution to the 2007 mayoral campaign of a person identified as “Elected Official A.”

According to authorities, that loan was later repaid with stolen charitable funds and federal grant money.

Earlier, another former political consultant, Gregory Naylor, pleaded guilty for his role in connection with two schemes, including that one.

Authorities have not identified “Elected Official A,” but information in court documents — including that those defrauded were the citizens of his “Second Congressional District” and other information from other sources clearly show that “Elected Official A” is Congressman Fattah.

Both Naylor and Lindenfeld have admitted they conspired with “Elected Official A” in the schemes.

After today’s guilty plea from Lindenfield, Fattah issued the following statement:

“In light of today’s news, it is disappointing that a second individual associated with me has pleaded guilty to wrongdoing. I spent today thanking the citizens of my district for their vote of confidence. Those citizens can be assured that as I previously stated, I have never been involved in any illegal conduct nor misappropriation of taxpayer funds.”

The congressman has not been charged with any crimes at this point in the ongoing probe.

 

[The Bobster]

Re: Congressman Fattah Says He'll Fight New Subpoena

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/20...present-himself-on-fraud-tax-evasion-charges/

Chaka Fattah Jr. Seeks To Represent Himself On Fraud, Tax Evasion Charges
December 12, 2014 2:56 AM
By Tony Hanson

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — A hearing is scheduled in federal court in Philadelphia today in the case of defendant Chaka Fattah Jr., who is the son of US Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-Pa).

Fattah Jr., the defendant, also wants serve as lawyer, representing himself in court on charges that include frau and income tax evasion. Authorities allege that Fattah Jr. held himself out as owner and founder of a number of enterprises and used funds from business lines of credit for personal expenses including car payments, jewelry, utilities, retail purchases, and charitable donations.

Fattah Jr. has pleaded not guilty and has repeatedly claimed the prosecution is politically motivated. He insists it is the result of witness perjury and government misconduct in the case, and he renewed those claims, in detail, in a 305 page motion to dismiss the case filed earlier this week. That motion is expected to be addressed later.

 

[The Bobster]

Re: Congressman Fattah Says He'll Fight New Subpoena

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news...Son-Delayed-by-Pretrial-Appeal-295033451.html

Fraud Trial of Congressman Fattah's Son Delayed by Pretrial Appeal
Published at 2:16 PM EST on Mar 4, 2015

The scheduled fraud trial of a congressman's son won't start as scheduled next week after a federal appeals court agreed to consider his pretrial appeal.

Federal prosecutors this week have also filed a revised indictment against Chaka Fattah Jr.

The 32-year-old Fattah is accused of lying to obtain more than $200,000 in business loans.

He is also charged with misusing some of the $930,000 in federal educational contracts he received.

Fattah Jr. in court Wednesday pleaded not guilty to the new charges. He remains free on bail.

His father, Chaka Fattah, is a Democratic congressman from Philadelphia who is also the subject of an ongoing federal investigation. It's unclear if the cases are related.

The Fattahs suggest they are politically motivated.

The son in his appeal accuses the Justice Department of prosecutorial misconduct.

Congressman Chaka Fattah is married to NBC10 anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah.

 

[The Bobster]

Re: Congressman Fattah Says He'll Fight New Subpoena

http://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Chaka-Fattah-Jr-Collateral-Damage-Probe-297172421.html

Chaka Fattah Jr. Faces Fraud Charges
Published at 3:14 PM EDT on Mar 22, 2015

A veteran congressman's son awaiting trial in a bank fraud case says he's "collateral damage'' in a Justice Department probe of his father.

Authorities believe Chaka Fattah Jr. misspent $200,000 in business loans along with funds from a federal education contract.

"Chip'' Fattah is the son of U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah Sr., a 10-term Philadelphia Democrat.

Prosecutors say the son used the money for a lavish condo, luxury cars and casinos.

But the 32-year-old Fattah insists he's done nothing wrong.

He's persuaded a federal appeals court to delay the trial this month while it reviews the charges.

The younger Fattah's college roommate has pleaded guilty in the case. And two of his father's former aides have pleaded guilty in a probe circling around the congressman. Both Fattahs have called the investigations political.

 

[Newsman]

U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-PA) indicted on racketeering charges over a wide-ranging coonspiracy

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/07/29/pennsylvania-rep-fattah-indicted-in-racketeering-case/

07/29/2015

Longtime Pennsylvania Democratic Rep. Chaka Fattah was indicted Wednesday on racketeering charges, accused of misappropriating hundreds of thousands of dollars from various accounts.

The Justice Department announced that he and four "associates" were charged in a 29-count indictment for their role in the alleged conspiracy.

"As charged in the indictment, Congressman Fattah and his associates embarked on a wide-ranging conspiracy involving bribery, concealment of unlawful campaign contributions and theft of charitable and federal funds to advance their own personal interests," Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell said in a statement. "When elected officials betray the trust and confidence placed in them by the public, the department will do everything we can to ensure that they are held accountable."

The 11-term Philadelphia Democrat ravda: -- who has been the subject of a long-running federal investigation -- was charged with racketeering conspiracy, bribery, conspiracy to commit wire, honest services and mail fraud, and other counts. The alleged scheme involves the misappropriation of funds from federal, charitable and campaign accounts.

Fattah, emerging from his Capitol Hill office shortly after the indictment was announced, said: "I've never been involved in any wrongdoing."

 

[The Bobster]

Re: Congressman Fattah Says He'll Fight New Subpoena

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2015/07/29/brady-saddened-fattah-indictment/

Dirty Irish Congressman Bob Brady Is Saddened Following The Fattah Indictment
July 29, 2015 3:39 PM

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Chaka Fattah maintains his innocence. In the meantime, his longtime Congressional colleague says he is saddened by Fattah’s indictment.

Congressman Bob Brady says one immediate impact of the indictment is that Fattah has resigned as Ranking Member on the House Appropriations Commerce Subcommittee. That move Brady says will affect Philadelphia right away.

“It’s a major blow to the city of Philadelphia to have somebody with the seniority and his clout, and all the money and resources he brought back in the past, will not be happening now in the future.”

Brady says Fattah has been his friend for 30 years. He says Fattah is innocent until proven guilty, but Brady admits if the allegations are true it’s extremely damaging.

 

[The Bobster]

Re: Congressman Fattah Says He'll Fight New Subpoena

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/20...-on-fattah-indictment-a-very-very-sad-moment/

Mayor Nutter On Fattah Indictment: ‘A Very, Very Sad Moment’
July 29, 2015 3:38 PM

PHILADELPHIA, PA – APRIL 04: (L-R) Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, Sir Richard Branson and U.S. Congressman Chaka Fattah attend the Launch of Virgin America’s First Flight from Los Angeles to Philadelphia on the tarmac of Phildelphia International Airport on April 4, 2012 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Michael Buckner/Getty Images)

By Mike Dunn

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Mayor Michael Nutter has spoken out after Congressman Chaka Fattah was named in an indictment filed today, along with four other people.

Mayor Nutter called the indictment “a very, very sad moment” for the city and for the Congressman and his family.

“It’s sad to see anyone go through this kind of process, but especially someone that I’ve known and worked with for a long, long period of time. He’s been a champion for children. Congressman Chaka Fattah has probably helped more people go to college and graduate school than any other member of the United States Congress.”

Nutter lives in Fattah’s district. He will not say if he believes Fattah should resign, nor will the mayor say whether he would ever run for the congressional seat that Fattah now holds.

“It’s completely inappropriate in this moment, at this time, to even speculate on something like that. He is the congressman from the second congressional district. He’ll make a decision about what he does and how he deals with the federal government in this particular regard.”

Nutter has known Fattah since both were young political operatives in the late 1970s. The mayor says his heart goes out to the entire Fattah family.

“This is a person who has served this city and this nation well. This is a husband, a father. You think about these kinds of things and the impact on the constituents, certainly, but also on your family.”

Nutter, of course, topped Fattah and three others in the 2007 Democratic mayoral primary, a campaign that led to some of the charges against the Congressman.

 

[The Bobster]

Re: Congressman Fattah Says He'll Fight New Subpoena

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/20...-us-rep-fattah-indicted-in-racketeering-case/

Rep. Chaka Fattah Indicted On Multiple Charges
July 29, 2015 11:42 AM
By Pat Loeb


PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Congressman Chaka Fattah was named in an indictment filed today, along with four other people: two businessmen and two members of his staff.

They are charged with multiple counts of conspiracy, racketeering, bribery, and other charges.

“Congressman Fattah and his associates conspired to use his office to further personal and political aspirations and personally enrich themselves at the expense of the very people they serve,” said Ed Hanko, special agent in charge of the Philadelphia office, at a news conference to announced the charges.

Fattah maintains his innocence , in a statement released by email:

“As I have previously stated, I have never participated in any illegal activity or misappropriation of taxpayer dollars as an elected official. For the last 21 years, I have represented the people of Philadelphia in Congress with honor and dignity, helping millions of families through my efforts focused on education, employment, mortgage relief, and health care. I will proudly continue to serve my constituents and look forward to helping millions more.”

The indictment details five schemes going back to 2007 when the congressman ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Philadelphia.

At that time, the indictment says, he accepted an illegal million dollar loan from a supporter, identified as Person D, and concealed it by filtering it through the consulting company of his associate Thomas Lindenfeld.

Then, to pay it back, the indictment alleges, he used funds from his non-profit, Educational Advancement Alliance – funds which had been donated by NASA and Sallie Mae.

The indictment charges that he paid off another loan to his mayoral campaign from Lindenfeld by promising to use his influence to help Lindenfeld get a $15 million federal grant (a grant Lindenfeld did not receive).

Fattah is also charged with using campaign money to pay off his son’s student loans, again concealing them as payments to a political consultant, in 34 payments from 2007 to 2011 totaling about $23,000.

In another alleged scheme, Fattah is charged with accepting $18,000 for a vacation home from alleged co-conspirator Herb Vederman in exchange for trying (unsuccessfully as it turned out) to help Vederman get a federal ambassadorship or appointment to the U.S. Trade Commission. In that count, Fattah’s wife, an anchor at a Philadelphia TV station, is alleged to have arranged for a paper sale of her car to Vederman to conceal that the money was a gift. Her employer did not respond to a request for comment.

Justice Department officials lamented the loss of trust that may accompany the indictment.

“The public expects their elected officials to act with honesty and integrity. The public does not expect their elected officials to misuse campaign funds, misappropriate government funds, accept bribes or commit bank fraud. These type of crimes and criminal acts betray the public trust and undermine faith in government,” said U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger.

Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell says, “Public corruption takes a particularly heavy toll because it really undermines people’s basic belief that their elected leaders are committed to serving the public interest, not to lining their own pockets.”

The indictment was not entirely unexpected.

Fattah’s son had previously been charged in the student loan scheme and Lindeman, as well as Fattah’s long time chief of staff, Greg Naylor, previously pleaded guilty to fraud and conspiracy.

Fattah, himself, in his statment cites “an eight-year effort by some in the Department of Justice to link my public service career to some form of wrongdoing. With today’s charges, this misguided campaign has now moved from speculation to specific allegations.”

Hanko says, in fact, the investigation began in 2013, with a “tip.”

 

[The Bobster]

Re: Congressman Fattah Says He'll Fight New Subpoena

http://philadelphia.cbslocal.com/2015/07/30/chaka-fattah-jr-responds-charges-against-father/

Chaka Fattah Jr Responds To Charges Against Father, Remains Defiant
July 30, 2015 11:37 AM

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) – Chaka Fattah Jr. denied any wrongdoing connected to federal charges against him and charges filed yesterday against his father, Philadelphia Congressman Chaka Fattah. Fattah Sr. is now charged with fraud, conspiracy, bribery, and other charges stemming from his campaign for mayor in 1995 and including a number of local charities he established to allegedly launder money through.

Talking with Chris Stigall on Talk Radio 1210 WPHT, Fattah Jr. rebuffed the contents of the indictment and maintained everyone in his family is innocent.

“Nothing improper was done. Nothing illegal was done…The Federal Government, at this moment, alleges that an improper shell was set up to do something. What’s important for your audience to know is there’s no reason to do anything like that…He could’ve just paid me or my company to do work for him. There’s no need to set up an improper shell. That’s one of the fundamental flaws in their argument.”

He contends that a cabal of prosecutors inside the Eastern District Office of the Department of Justice are conspiring to remove his father from office.

“These couple of people want to decide, in exchange for votes of hundreds of thousands of people, who they want to be in Congress. So they don’t like my dad, for whatever reason, I don’t know all the details of why they don’t like my dad.”

Fattah believes he was only targeted by federal investigators to give them leverage in negotiations with his father.

“If they charge me and convict me at a trial then they can try to use that against my dad. Either A, look what happened to your son, this is what’s going to happen to you,’ or B, we could go easy on your son at the next phase, which would be sentencing. In exchange for that, we don’t really want to go to war with [Congressman Fattah], which is going to be a vigorous fight.”

Fattah remained defiant in the face of charges against both himself and his father, but repeatedly refused to answer any questions about a car related to his step-mother, Philadelphia News Anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah.

“I don’t know anything about that. I know she has another car, which is a pickup truck. What I’m saying is, I don’t know anything about that transaction.”

Authorities contend a lobbyist arranged the purchase of a 1989 Porsche Carrera from Chenault-Fattah for $18,000, only to have the Fattah’s keep the car and use the money for a down payment on a vacation home in the Poconos.

 

[The Bobster]

Re: Congressman Fattah Says He'll Fight New Subpoena

http://www.myfoxphilly.com/story/29674406/fattah-picks-up-advocacy-award-one-day-after-indictment

Fattah Picks Up Advocacy Award One Day After Indictment
Posted: Jul 30, 2015 6:29 PM EDT
Updated: Jul 31, 2015 11:27 AM EDT
By Jeff Cole, Reporter

PHILADELPHIA - U. S. Congressman Chaka Fattah was standing tall Thursday. Despite a federal indictment, he told supporters he's going to be around in office in the years to come.

The Philadelphia Democrat made that statement just a day after being hit with a 29-count corruption indictment.

And Fattah appears to be going on the attack, opening a broadside on the local United States attorney and doing it with a smile, FOX 29 Investigate's Jeff Cole reports. But this case is in its infancy, and there will certainly be very rough days ahead for this veteran of congress.

"Please join me in welcoming to the stage our 2015 Advocate of the Year … given to Chaka Fattah," an announcer read to cheers Thursday afternoon at an event inside a Washington, D.C., hotel.

Fattah was being celebrated by a business organization, the U.S. Black Chambers Inc.

The 11-term congressman stood defiant: "I don't want anyone who's thinking about this to spend any time thinking that I'm not going to be here doing this work. I'm gonna be here."

The longtime House member is accused of – among other charges – taking an illegal $1-million campaign loan and using federal dollars and money from a charity to pay it off.

"The conduct that Congressman Fattah engaged in undermines public faith in government, undermines confidence in government," U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania Zane Memeger said during a news conference Wednesday.

Fattah, who claims he's done nothing wrong, attacked Memeger for what he thinks is a very weak case.

"So, we are not going to substitute the views of the voters for an enthusiastic, determined prosecutor who somehow thinks that maybe I shouldn't be doing what I am doing," Fattah said.

Back in Philly, the gate was closed at Fattah's city home.

At city hall, the Mayor Michael Nutter was signing a bill forcing disclosure by independent groups funneling cash to city candidates.

Nutter would not comment of whether Fattah should remain in office while he fights the corruption charges but said, while most politicians follow the law, allegations like these damage them all.

"It is never good for any of us in elective office. It's never good for the city. It's never good for our citizens," Nutter said.

Fattah's wife, NBC 10 anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah is not charged but has been linked to the case in an alleged bogus deal to sell her Porsche.

Fattah stepped down from his leadership position on the board of the Congressional Black Conference on Thursday while the group's chair called the charges "very serious."