[Hes]got an incredible social network. He says hes spent more than $300,000 paying for his legal defense. And above all, he can say that theres essentially no chance someone who beats him in the election would, as a freshman congressman, earn a seat on appropriations. was indicted on federal corruption charges on Wednesday in connection with fraud around his unsuccessful 2007 campaign for mayor of Philadelphia. The Republican party may have won a majority in the U.S. House of Representatives in 1994, but a seat was still found for a liberal named Chaka Fattah.The freshman Democratic congressman from Philadelphia is a lawmaker who has . We're sorry what happened to your family, but isn't it great that you went on to use your voice to do something which makes an impact around this issue of Alzheimer's.' Congressman William Gray decided to resign. He represented the 2nd Congressional District of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 1994 to 2016. Despite apparently selling the car to Vederman in January, the indictment says, Chenault-Fattah in May renewed the car's registration in her name, had the vehicle serviced in Conshohocken in June, and adjusted the car's insurance for the winter in November. She was cited in the case over the sham sale of her Porsche,. If you're a human and see this, please ignore it. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Fattah's wife, longtime Philadelphia news anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah and their two daughters were not charged. Two days later, according to the indictment, the Fattahs had their mortgage for the Poconos property approved. Fattah represented the 2nd district in Pennsylvania, an overwhelmingly Democratic district, in the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 2016. Fattah insists the Justice Department racketeering case is politically motivated. It was recently announced that his wife who was not charged was no longer at NBC 10 after a six-month period on leave from the station, and Fattah Jr. is in a jail cell. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Renee Chenault-Fattah, wife of the indicted Rep. Chaka Fattah (D., Pa.), was not charged by federal authorities Wednesday - but the longtime NBC10 anchor did not escape the U.S. attorney's charging document. For these additional counts, Fattah was again sentenced to 10 years of incarceration on July 12, 2019. When you get someone whos invested 10 or 20 years, and theyre in there and bringing resources back, it doesnt really make sense to get rid of them., The congressman has never won less than 85 percent of the vote in the general, and in 2000 he defeateda Libertarian by garnering an unheard-of 98 percent of the vote. The judge said it was equally astonishing that Fattah would steal money to cover his sons debts, to pay taxes and to buy a family vacation home. Fattah was once a shoo-in for his seat representing the second congressional district, one of the poorest in the nation and the only district in Pennsylvania with a majority black residency. Market data provided by Factset. Fattah, a Democrat formerly representing Pennsylvanias second congressional district, was found guilty in June 2016. "Almost every chronic illness hits us harder," she said, referring to African Americans. NBC10's Deanna Durante explains how. While you have done much good, you also engaged in grave and widespread criminal activity, Bartle added. Chaka Chip Fattah Jr., who never finished college, was convicted of using fraudulently obtained business loans to fund his jet-set lifestyle. For 16 minutes, the 59-year-old describes each one in varying detail. Fattah is also the creator of Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP). But the icing on this crooked cake is that Fattah is collecting a taxpayer-funded pension. / CBS/AP. 3941-45 W. Netherfield Rd., Philadelphia, Pa. 19129 | TREND images via Elfant Wissahickon Realtors. By Fattahs own assessment, he could soonhold the purse strings of a nation in his hands. "Whether it's diabetes, whether it's heart disease, strokes across the board.". He was convicted on 23 counts of racketeering, fraud, and other corruption charges on June 21, 2016, and resigned two days later. "And that's something that a large segment of the population is not aware of. The latest property being unloaded in the Disgraced Pol Hit Parade went on the market last Tuesday. The Emergency Homeowners Loan Program provides up to 24 months of assistance, through bridge loans, for distressed homeowners and is a scaled-up version of the HEMAP program. Committed to funding neuroscience research. Dianna Marder, Party Politics: Fattah, Chenault exchange vows with help from their children, the congressman and news anchor held a big church wedding,The Philadelphia Inquirer, April 8, 2001, Congressman Chaka Fattahs son taken off to serve years in prison for fraud,NBCPhiladelphia.com, February 2, 2016,https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Chaka-Fattah-Jr-Fraud-Sentencing-Federal-Court-367332741.html; Bill Clark, Chaka Fattah former Pennsylvania congressman gets 10 years in federal prison for corruption, CBSNews.com, December 12, 2016,https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chaka-fattah-former-pennsylvania-congressman-10-years-prison-corruption/. The Fattahs were buying a vacation home in Shohola, Pa., the indictment says, and had agreed to pay just over $19,000 in settlement costs at closing. The tax credit assists any full-time college or university student or their families that claim the credit. Fattah insists the Justice Department, though led by fellow Democrats, has been out to get him and his family for years. After 30 years of working first as a Wall Street lawyer and later a TV broadcaster, she had to figure out what her third act would be. The FBI further alleged that Fattah accepted an $18,000 bribe from a man seeking an ambassadorship. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. Updated: 12/12/2016 12:02 PM EST. In 1994 Fattah was elected to the U.S. House of Representatives after defeating incumbent Congressman Lucian Blackwell in the Democratic Primary for Pennsylvanias Second Congressional District. The bill has national support from co-op and EOB advocates and members. In this May 7, 2015 photo, Rep. Chaka Fattah, D-Pa., speaks during a My Brother's Keeper town hall at the School of the Future in Philadelphia. The longtime northwest Philadelphia state politician has friends in both Philadelphia and state politics, including Tasco, who has a reputation for being able to whip up a significant amount of votes, has built relationships and is not a divisive figure., Fattah, frankly, doesnt care about the politicians who have backed his most well-knownopponent. Forego a bottle of soda and donate its cost to us for the information you just learned, and feel good about helping to make it available to everyone. Chenault-Fattah, 57, could not be reached for comment Wednesday. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Suddenly, the popular broadcaster was a stay-at-home mom with a whole lot of time on her hands and a non-compete clause that sidelined her for a least a year. African American History: Research Guides & Websites, Global African History: Research Guides & Websites, African American Scientists and Technicians of the Manhattan Project, Envoys, Diplomatic Ministers, & Ambassadors, https://www.nbcphiladelphia.com/news/local/Chaka-Fattah-Jr-Fraud-Sentencing-Federal-Court-367332741.html, https://www.cbsnews.com/news/chaka-fattah-former-pennsylvania-congressman-10-years-prison-corruption/, Foundation, Organization, and Corporate Supporters. As he awaited his sentence, Fattah said he had mixed emotions: saddened to find himself in court but grateful for the work he was able to do. Fattah is only 64 years old, so his estimated lifetime pension is $1 million. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Congressional pensions are exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Former Rep. Chaka Fattah, D-Pa., walks from the federal courthouse on Monday after his sentencing hearing in Philadelphia. The cottage has a high-ceilinged living room with fireplace and a sleeping loft. I kind of want to leave it there.". But Fattah says hes also more committed now than he ever has been. Former state Rep. Dwight Evans, a fellow Democrat, now holds his seat. A source speculated to The Philadelphia Inquirer that the decision could be tied to coronavirus concerns. So it was interesting to hear Chenault-Fattah spout facts and figures about Alzheimer's, which impacts about 5.7 million Americans. They have two school-age children. In 2002, he introduced the "Student Bill of Rights", H.R. She's done with that. Following this conference, his mother decided to change his name to Chaka Fattah, to acknowledge their African ethnicity. Chenault-Fattah, who used to anchor her station's 4 and 6 p.m. newscasts, went on a six-month leave that eventually became permanent. In 1984, Fattah completed the Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. Learn How rich is He in this year and how He spends money? In Fattahs eyes, this people being wrongly accused happens all the time. The Fattah campaign defended itself, claiming that it had followed less restrictive federal rules in spending the money, but eventually returned a portion of the excess contributions to the exploratory committee following a settlement with the city's Board of Ethics. If you're a scraper, please click the link below :-) Theyre both expected to start spending soon on television ads to increase name recognition in the district. In the 2016 election, Fattah was ousted in the Democratic primarythe real contest in his heavily Democratic, black-majority districtto state representative Dwight Evans. Meanwhile, Fattah has taken heat from the judge in the case for publicly claiming hes more focused on winning re-election than he is in defending himself. Office of Property Assessment records show the home was put in Renee Chenault-Fattahs name via a nominal transaction in 2006. The conference brought together national leaders in cooperative development to share best practices to create powerful change for their organizations. On December 12, 2016, Fattah was sentenced to 10 years in prison. She has anchored each of the network's prime-time newscasts, including the 11 p.m. news, which she hosted with Larry Mendte from 1997 to 2003. The living room boasts such classic details as a chair rail and a marble fireplace; it also is decorated with wallpaper depicting West African scenes. His son, Chaka Fattah, Jr., is in federal prison after being convicted on charges he funneled government money to himself and defrauded others to pad a luxurious lifestyle. Fattah also hired Vederman's girlfriend to his staff as the transactions were taking place, according to the indictment. Both the main home and the carriage house have central air, and there are two garages on the property as well. But their real-life fairy tale turned into a nightmare in 2015 after the feds indicted and later convicted Chaka Fattah of racketeering, bribery, money laundering, and fraud. . Your donation is fully tax-deductible. Chaka Fattah's net worth Fattah has said he will appeal his conviction and sentence. Fattah, who earned $174,000 as a congressman, is married to longtime Philadelphia news anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah. "I love my husband. The sale price should just about cover the amount Chaka swiped from the government and nonprofit organizations to repay the illegal $1 million campaign loan that landed him in prison. Theyre kind of dealing with the position, Fattah said. U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (D., Pa.) was convicted Tuesday on federal racketeering and bribery charges, putting an ignominious stamp on the career of one of the region's longest-serving members of Congress and all but ensuring that his public life will be capped with a prison sentence. "Asking for $18,000 which is a steal.". In 2007 Fattah launched an unsuccessful bid for Mayor of Philadelphia. The case was then remanded for resentencing. More by Anna Orso. But she was less open to talking about her incarcerated husband, former U.S. After Congress tightened ethics laws, convicted members of Congress were supposed to lose federal pensions. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Fattah served as a member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives for the 192nd district from 1983 to 1988, and as a State Senator for the 7th district from 1988 to 1994. Check out what's clicking on Foxnews.com. It's the former home of Congressman Chaka Fattah and his wife Renee Chenault-Fattah, a. In November 2013, Fattah was invited to attend as Keynote speaker at the Annual Cooperatives Conference, hosted by the NCBA. Congressman Chaka Fattah, a Philadelphia Democrat, speaks to the center for American Progress in 2010. Follow Jerome Hudson on Twitter @jeromeehudson. This search result is here to prevent scraping, 3941-45 W. Netherfield Rd., Philadelphia, Pa. 19129, Just Listed: Wash West Trinity Condo for Sale, On the Market: Quakertown Contemporary Manor House for Sale, On the Market: Ottsville Farmhouse for Sale with Organic Farm, The 50 Hottest Philadelphia Neighborhoods and Nearby Towns, Just Listed: Rittenhouse Square Full-Floor Duplex Condo for Sale. His wife, Philadelphia TV news anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah, took a leave after her husband's indictment and then quit in February. The Justice Department wanted Fattah incarcerated for 17 to 21 years. Chaka Fattahs income source is mostly from being a successful . They told authorities the money covered the friends purchase of a Porsche owned by Fattahs wife, but the Porsche never left their garage. Theyre both expected to start spending soon on television ads to increase name recognition in the district. The congressman's wife, NBC10 news anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah, was not in the courtroom. On November 5, 1991, City Councilman Lucien Edward Blackwell won the election with a plurality of 39% of the vote defeating Fattah (28%), John F. White (28%), and Nadine Smith-Bulford (5%). You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! Or rather, Chaka and Renee. Hes a member of the Democratic political establishment in both Philadelphia and Washington, and predicts that if things go his way, hes next in line to take over as the Democratic chairman of the Committee on Appropriations in the House. 20072023 Blackpast.org. Fattah and several of his co-defendants, who include former campaign and congressional aides, obtained an illegal $1 million loan for him during the 2007 mayors race. ET. His wife, former NBC 10 anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah, was labeled as "Person E" in his indictment; she is accused of being a participant in falsely reporting the sale of her Porsche to a . Congressman Chaka Fattah Sr., 58, of Philadelphia; lobbyist Herbert Vederman, 69, of Palm Beach, Florida; Fattah's Congressional District Director Bonnie Bowser, 59, of Philadelphia; and Robert Brand, 69, of Philadelphia; and Karen Nicholas, 57, of Williamstown, New Jersey, were charged today in a 29-count indictment with participating in a His wife, former NBC10 news anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah, though not charged in his case, saw her career end this year after she was linked to the sham sale in 2012 of her Porsche convertible, a transaction prosecutors said was intended to cover up a bribe to her husband. Thats at least four more elections to win. 1703, which attracted no cosponsors. The taskforce included both liberal and conservative Democrats, gun owners and Representatives from various cities. All they have to do is believe in the system.. Sources. Fattahwasnt known as the type of person who would frequentlyhelp other politicos around town raise money. Fattah, who earned $174,000 as a congressman,. Chenault-Fattah, who is also a lawyer, spent 25 years with WCAU-TV before she resigned after the indictment named her a participant in the bribery scheme. In December 2011, Fattah through his role on the Appropriations Committee, directed the OSTP to establish an Interagency Working Group on Neuroscience (IWGN). The four others convicted at trial will be sentenced later this week. Hes done lots of favors for lots of people, Dilworth said. So, how much is Chaka Fattah worth at the age of 66 years old? In return, Fattah reportedly pushed for an ambassadorial position for Vederman or for appointment to the U.S. Trade Commission, including hand-delivering a letter to President Barack Obama on the issue. 3941-45 W. Netherfield Rd., Philadelphia, Pa. 19129 [Connie Gillespie | ElfantWissahickon Realtors], Philadelphia Shops and Resources Thatll Help Outfit Your Dream Home Office Space, The Most Walkable Philadelphia Suburbs and Neighborhoods. Theyre from the White House, The New York Times, The Inquirer, The Times of Israel. He won a seat on the powerful Appropriations Committee, where he was able to steer millions of dollars in earmarks back home. Anchor Jim Rosenfield, speaking during Wednesday's 4 p.m. newscast, said Chenault-Fattah "is now on leave.". Phillys mayoral candidates are tiptoeing onto TikTok. Fattah, a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, began his political career working as the Special Assistant to the Director of Housing and Community Development in Philadelphia from 1980 to 1981. One man standing outside a barbershopon Lancaster Avenue put it this way: We keep supporting these people, keep electing them, but they always end up doing dumb shit.Many are concerned Fattah is just another in a long line of political figures exposed of beinginvolved in shady dealings. Richardson Dilworth, a professor of politics and the director of Drexels Center for Public Policy (and, yes, grandson of the former mayor), observed that Fattah has great name recognition in his district, andsaid hes not convinced his indictment is going hurt him much at the polls. He previously served in the Pennsylvania Senate and the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. Muroff, the past president of CeaseFire PAwhos taken up gun violence prevention as one of his primary causes, said he wouldnt diminish the importance of a district being represented ona powerful committee with control over spending, but noted that hes the only challenger with experience as a senior level legislative staff member in the federal government. Among the charges: Mail fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy, bribery and racketeering, which is essentially using a legit organization for illegal purposes. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. The jury convicted him of leading a five-person racketeering enterprise that included the loyal aides and political consultants who did his bidding, comingling campaign, nonprofit and government funds and using them as directed for Fattahs personal and political needs. And for a while, it looked as if it was just that. Meanwhile, Evans had $303,000 on hand and Muroff had $208,000. Former U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, D-Pa., was released from a federal lockup near Scranton last month to serve the rest of his sentence in either a halfway house or under house arrest in. 4646) which proposed to repeal the federal income tax and replace it with a 1 percent "transaction tax" on every financial transaction whether paid by cash, credit card or any form of financial transfer, the only exception being transactions involving the purchase or sale of stock. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. In May 2013, Fattah introduced the Creating Jobs through Cooperatives Act (HR 2437). The conference was designed to encourage minority students interest in STEM graduate and professional schools. State Rep. Brian Sims declared himself a challenger, then dropped out before filing day. In 2013, Fattah served as a vice chair on the House Gun and Violence Taskforce, a taskforce created under the direction of House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. Upstairs youll find three bedrooms and a full bath. Tom Wolf and Mayor Jim Kenney, the latter ofwhom praised Evans for being someone who has built relationships and is not a divisive figure.. People got to be real careful about taking out a guy like that, State Sen. Vincent Hughes, a longtime Fattah supporter, Congress works off seniority. Chaka Fattah with Obama aide Valerie Jarrett on Air Force One. He even lobbied President Barack Obama on the friends behalf, to no avail. Im as innocent as you are under our system, Fattah said. Even though she's been off the air for almost three years, people still recognize Chenault-Fattah when she's out and about and question her about when she'll be back on air. The legislation provides a 50% tax credit to donors who contribute to qualifying scholarship trusts that are recognized and registered with the Secretary of the Treasury. He talks about how charges were dropped againsta Temple professor recently accused ofbeing a Chinese spy. Fattah endorsed Barack Obama for President in 2008. To cement the transaction, Fattah provided a bank a copy of a bill of sale for the vehicle, the indictment says, which Chenault-Fattah had signed as the seller. Im going to get these allegations behind me. Fattah also hired Vedermans girlfriend in his Capitol Hill office. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. He received an MA from The John Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University in 1984 and a Master of Governmental Administration (MGA) at the University of Pennsylvanias Fels Institute of State and Local Government in 1986. So the feds say hesecured a $1 million loan from then-Sallie Mae CEO Al Lord a big no-no in campaign finance and then paid back $600,000 of itusing charitable and federal funds through his nonprofit the Educational Advancement Alliance. Meanwhile, Evans had $303,000 on hand and Muroff had $208,000. Chaka Fattah of racketeering, bribery, money laundering, and fraud. He publicly supported the Bring Our Troops Home and Iraq Sovereignty Act a bill that called for bringing the troops home within six months and transitioning the Iraqis to self-government. Ive helped tens of millions of people, Fattah said. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. With other women, he is the father of another daughter, Frances ("Fran"), and one son, Chaka Fattah Jr., known as "Chip", who was convicted of felony bank and tax fraud in February 2016. Fattah and the other co-conspirators submitted false billing statements to his mayoral campaign in order to keep the loan secret. In November 2006, he declared his candidacy for Mayor of Philadelphia, where two-term incumbent Mayor John F. Street was barred from re-election by term limits, amid pressure from Democratic voters to keep his Congressional seat in order to maintain a Philadelphia representative on the powerful Appropriations Committee in the House. 2451. Fattah used the money to pay personal expenses, including his taxes. They say Fattah and his allies ran not one, but several schemes, that misappropriated funds and helped him further his own political and financial interests. He is from . In the 2011-12 election period, he spent $162,000 while the average winner of a House seat spent 10 times that, some $1.6 million. Committed to fair housing. Despite the successes, the connections, the seniority and the support, hes a careerpolitician whos nearly out of campaign funds and who couldnt pay the lawyers defending him on charges of using public money and charity dollars to further his political career and line the pockets of hisassociates.