Fattah charged with bribery too.
By Raif Karerat
WASHINGTON, DC: Federal prosecutors announced criminal charges Wednesday against Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.), alleging that the 11-term Philadelphia congressman conspired with others to hide a $1 million loan from a wealthy donor to his unsuccessful 2007 campaign for mayor of Philadelphia.
Fattah, 58, and four associates were charged with bribery; conspiracy to commit wire, honest services, bank and mail fraud, money laundering, and other charges.
The 29-count indictment alleges that Fattah arranged to have a nonprofit organization that he founded and controlled pay back the loan using federal grant money and charitable donations, reported USA Today.
According to NBC News, the others charged include Fattah’s congressional district director, Bonnie Bowser, and Palm Beach, Fla.-based lobbyist Herbert Vederman.
Meanwhile, Fattah has vowed to remain in office and fight the charges against him, reported ABC affiliate WPVI.
In a new statement, Fattah denied wrongdoing and wrote that he’s “confident” he’ll be cleared of charges.
“As I have previously stated, I have never participated in any illegal activity or misappropriation of taxpayer dollars as an elected official,” he wrote. “This will not be a distraction from my service to the people that elected me, and I am confident that I will be cleared of these charges.”
Fattah also confirmed he has stepped down from his role as the top Democrat on the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, and Science.
“The public does not expect their elected officials to misuse campaign funds, misappropriate government funds, accept bribes or commit bank fraud,” U.S. Attorney Zane Memeger said. “These type of criminal acts betray the public trust and undermine faith in government.”
The congressman is also accused of using campaign funds to repay the $23,000 student loan debt of his son, Chaka Fattah Jr.
“To execute this scheme, and to conceal it, Congressman Fattah and Bonnie Bowser arranged for his campaigns to make payments to a political consultant company, which in turn used the funds to satisfy a student loan that belonged to Congressman Fattah’s son,” Memeger said.
In response to the indictment, House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi released a statement that said, “The charges in the indictment against Congressman Chaka Fattah are deeply saddening. Congressman Fattah has been a tireless and effective advocate for America’s hard-working families across more than 20 years of distinguished service in the House.”