U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah convicted in racketeering case [View all]

[cali]

U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah, a longtime federal legislator and staple of Philadelphia politics, was convicted Tuesday of orchestrating a medley of corrupt dealings to boost his career and help himself and his family financially, authorities said.

Fattah, 59, had lost his seat in Congress while the allegations of wrongdoing swirled around him, and now he faces a potentially even more serious consequence: federal prison. The Philadelphia Democrat was convicted of racketeering and all other counts against him.

Fattah and several allies were charged in a 29-count indictment in July with racketeering and other crimes for what prosecutors said were a variety of schemes to abuse the congressman’s office and cover their tracks. Defense attorneys had argued that the government’s case was based on the word of those who cut plea deals to avoid stiffer penalties themselves and that Fattah had “nothing to do with any of it.”

The trial, which began in the middle of May, signaled a remarkable downfall for Fattah, who — despite his loss in the 2007 mayoral election — seemed to be a stalwart in Philadelphia politics, having held his congressional seat for more than two decades. Allegations had long swirled around him, but as recently as two years ago he had no primary challenger and easily defeated a Republican opponent. The congressman, though, was bested in the Democratic primary earlier this year by state Rep. Dwight Evans, probably because of the looming criminal case.


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read:https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/post-nation/wp/2016/06/21/u-s-rep-chaka-fattah-convicted-in-racketeering-case/?utm_term=.7b9a6526c867