Voting ina new congressman would be, in his words, a Chip Kelly trade something that, roughly speaking, changes the team but for the worse. Fattah won his first election in 1982 by 58 votes , defeating a party-favored incumbent for the 192nd house seat in the Pennsylvania . 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. In 2004, Fattah introduced a bill titled the "Transform America Transaction Fee," (H.R. ", When I asked how he's faring in federal prison, she said, "Chaka's doing great. On December 12, 2016, Fattah was sentenced to 10 years in prison and began serving his term at the Federal Correctional Institution, McKean, Pennsylvania on January 25, 2017. In 2002, he introduced the "Student Bill of Rights", H.R. PHILADELPHIA A federal judge has sentenced Former Pennsylvania Congressman Chaka Fattah to 10 years behind bars on charges of racketeering, fraud and money laundering. Chenault-Fattah did let me know, though, that her marriage remains intact. He announced his immediate resignation from Congress two days later, on June 23. A jury has decided that based on the evidence presented to them that I am guilty of charges presented by the government. The couple, married in 2001, have one daughter, Chandler Fattah. The cottage has a high-ceilinged living room with fireplace and a sleeping loft. The case was then remanded for resentencing. He says the work he wants to complete will take him another decade. Since 2011, the Congressman was able to negotiate an increase of $30M to investment in DOJ programs that fund groups including the Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America. What hewilladmit: Raising cash for re-election while under the cloud of federal indictmenthas been a struggle. 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. [Hes]got an incredible social network. Fattah introduced "Communities Committed to College", H.R. Chaka "Chip" Fattah Jr., who never finished college, was convicted of using fraudulently obtained business loans to fund his jet-set lifestyle. But she fought to keep the figure private during her husband's mayoral run in 2007, and his federal financial disclosure reports do not specify how much she earns. ( Photo via Facebook ), California residents do not sell my data request. Property records indicate the house, near the Delaware River north of Milford, has about 2,800 square feet with three bedrooms, 21/2 bathrooms, a fireplace, and a deck. 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. Philadelphia news outlets have filed a motion to unseal court documents related to that dismissal. He can point to his early and loud supportof President Barack Obama. While it was one the harshest sentences ever handed out to a one-time member of Congress, federal prosecutors had asked for a longer term behind bars. In 1994, Fattah decided to challenge Blackwell in the Democratic primary. Earlier this year, Fattah, 60, was convicted of misspending government grants and charity money to fund his campaign and personal expenses, even as he and his TV anchor wife earned more than $500,000 a year. She sat in the courtroom Monday typing on an iPad during the hearing. Phillys mayoral candidates are tiptoeing onto TikTok. Chaka Fattah, former Pennsylvania congressman, gets 10 years in prison | AP Photo. After being sentenced to 10 years in prison for a 23-count conviction for racketeering, fraud and other corruption charges, disgraced former Congressman Chaka Fattah was released from prison last July after about one year. A subsequent Philadelphia Daily News investigation revealed that nonprofits receiving federal funding and connected to Fattah paid out over $5.8 million to Fattah allies and alleged that many of these payments were ethically dubious. Committed to one day maybe six days after the primary, the scheduled start date of his trial fighting those criminal charges. It's the former home of Congressman Chaka Fattah and his wife Renee Chenault-Fattah, a. But Fattah says hes also more committed now than he ever has been. Chenault-Fattah, 57, could not be reached for comment Wednesday. In 2002, he was named to the PoliticsPA list of Best Dressed Legislators, noting his "excellence in haberdashery.". Chaka Fattah with Obama aide Valerie Jarrett on Air Force One. Theyre from the White House, The New York Times, The Inquirer, The Times of Israel. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. A handful of names circulated, from District Attorney Seth Williams to now former Mayor Michael Nutter. Upon entering the political world at age 25, he became a lawmaker and served six years as Pennsylvania state representative, followed by six years as state senator. On the basis of this ruling, Fattah appealed his conviction in October 2016, placing his sentencing on hold. But she was less open to talking about her incarcerated husband, former U.S. His wife, Philadelphia TV news anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah, took a leave after her husband's indictment and then quit in February. Fattahs third wife, Renee Chenault-Fattah, is a former Philadelphia television news broadcaster. . Congress works off seniority. The only poll conducted so far suggests Evans is in the lead, but theres a caveat: Evans, who didnt respond to a request for comment, paid for that poll. Former Rep. Chaka Fattah Sentenced To 10 Years For 'White-Collar - NPR By misusing campaign funds, misappropriating government funds, accepting bribes, and committing bank fraud, as alleged in the Indictment, Congressman Fattah and his co-conspirators have betrayed the public trust and undermined faith in government.. Its the former home of Congressman Chaka Fattah and his wife Renee Chenault-Fattah, a 2.6-acre estate tucked away on a quiet lane in East Falls. The biggest deal is: What did you do?, Nice to see you. "[That] has nothing to do with the fact that Ive been found on the wrong side of these questions by a jury.. Convicted Former Congressman Still Draws Estimated $1 Million Federal For someone so interested in advancing education for the disadvantaged, you had the temerity to steal from the Educational Advancement Alliance, a nonprofit supported by government funds, Bartle said. When charges came down last summer, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Fattah had rightly given up his ranking position. "My dad died from pancreatic cancer. The measure calls for States to provide highly effective teachers, early childhood education, college prep curricula and equitable instructional resources to all students who attend public schools. Now all of a sudden he wants to run for mayor and he shows up dispensing checks. From 1995 to 2016, Fattah served as the U.S. Representative from Pennsylvanias 2nd Congressional District. . This is my tuition and tax credit program this has helped millions of families. "I love my husband. Both the main home and the carriage house have central air, and there are two garages on the property as well. NEW JERSEY FEDERAL JUDGES SON KILLED, HUSBAND SHOT AT HOME. In 2012, Fattah negotiated a partnership between FIRST and Boys & Girls Clubs of America to provide robotics programs to 4 million youth by 2015. His father said hes spoken to his son, who is looking forward to appealing his own federal case. or redistributed. 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 younger Fattah is serving a five-year sentence. Chaka Fattah's income source is mostly from being a successful . Committed to fair housing. Fattah and his wife, Renee Chenault Fattah, also allegedly used bribery proceeds to "close on a vacation home" in the Poconos by falsely disguising an . Fattah grew up in Philadelphia, attending Overbrook High School and the Community College of Philadelphia. Its alleged that he misappropriated more funds from his mayoral and congressional campaigns in order to pay off his sonsstudent loan debt by dispensing checks to a political consulting firm which then lessened his sons college debt burden. See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 2010#District 2. The loan was paid back using federal grant money intended for nonprofit organizations affiliated with Fattah. He was never challenged in the Democratic primary until 2016, when he lost to Dwight E. Evans. Housed within the White House and chartered on June 20, 2012, the IWGN convenes representatives across the Federal government to make recommendations about the future of neuroscience research. This was her first interview since her husband's conviction, so I asked her about that not that I could get her to say much about Chaka, his legal case or the infamous 1989 Porsche that prosecutors alleged was a cover for a bribe from a lobbyist. I got to ask former WCAU-TV anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah anything I wanted about Alzheimer's disease. I'm a columnist for The Philadelphia Inquirer and Daily News covering mostly local topics but sometimes weighing in on national news as well. Fattah, who earned $174,000 as a congressman,. Updated: 12/12/2016 12:02 PM EST. After Congress tightened ethics laws, convicted members of Congress were supposed to lose federal pensions. Prosecutors say Fattah tried to conceal an $18,000 bribe from Vederman by pretending he sold a Porsche to the man. Fattah was a former state lawmaker and Philadelphia official who was elected to Congress in 1994. Rep. Chaka Fattah found guilty of all racketeering, fraud - PhillyVoice On June 21, 2016, a federal jury convicted Fattah, 59, of bribery, mail fraud, and 27 other charges including misappropriating campaign, charity, and taxpayer money. Fattah, who earned $174,000 as a congressman, is married to longtime Philadelphia news anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah. He previously served in the Pennsylvania Senate and the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. 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. He added: I dont think that not having somebody on the appropriations committee disenfranchises the city.. The Associated Press contributed to this report. 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. 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. Committed to funding neuroscience research. 20072023 Blackpast.org. He was sentenced on Dec. 12, 2016 to 10 years in prison and he reported to Federal Correctional Institution, McKean on Jan. 25, 2017. 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. Labeled as "Person E" throughout the 85-page indictment, Chenault-Fattah, one of the station's most visible personalities and anchor of the 4 and 6 p.m. broadcasts, is portrayed as a participant in a scheme to falsely report the sale of her 1989 Porsche Carrera convertible to a lobbyist for $18,000. Fattah, 60, served 22 years in Congress before losing a Democratic primary in April. Fattah's 10-year-prison sentence falls below the federal advisory guidelines, a range that Bartle said ran 15 years and eight months to 19 years and seven months. "This is an extraordinarily difficult day for me and my family. He can tout his role in passing the Affordable Care Act. Fattahmakes sure to note, too, that Sims raised $230,000 to challenge him for Congressthis year and didnt make it to filing day. Strategistswidely believe he has the most name recognitionin the field (absent the incumbent), as well as the most cashand a handful of top Philadelphia and state politicians standing behind him who are willing to throw in public support and money for ads. Some of the major players in the city leadership maybe are not embracing me because allegations have been made about me, Fattah said. save for his 2007 bid for mayor. 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. December 12, 2016 / 12:36 PM Chenault-Fattah has sold the 2.6-acre estate in East Falls that had been their marital home and downsized into something smaller near Springside Chestnut Hill Academy, where their daughter, Chandler, is an eighth grader. Fattah, who has so far largely escaped being attacked by challengers with regard to the litany of criminal charges and accusations against him, is harnessing the one thing that he has that Evans doesnt: 22 years in congress and a seat on the House Committee on Appropriations. Thats at least four more elections to win. Those in high places will certainly know what happens in this courtroom today, said U.S. District Judge Harvery Bartle, III, as he sentenced Fattah, according to WPVI, a Philadelphia TV station. the Service Employees International Union, spent about a third of whatbusinessman Tom Knox did, a Temple professor recently accused ofbeing a Chinese spy, Experts seem to agree that prosecutors have their hands full, 5 things to know about Joanna McClinton, Pa.s first Black woman House speaker, How to get on the primary ballot in Philly (and why candidates get kicked off), What should Philly mayoral candidates answer about public safety? 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. Sure, Fattahis still a member of several subcommittees that handle appropriations. Ironically, Fattah says that one day he hopes his legacy in Philadelphia is not about his success at the polls or the elections hes won or even about his prominence in the Washington Democratic establishment, but rather, he says, about what hes done for his constituents and for the country. The trial was originally scheduled for May 2, 2016, but in April a judge had the date pushed back to May 16 to give the defendants time to review the excess of more than 100,000 documents accrued by the prosecution. If BP helped inform you, join as a member today! He is from . U.S. District Judge Harvey Bartle III told Fattah in January:You need to take this matter seriously and think long and hard about your priorities., The charges Fattah denies are what hesomehow calls a clarifying moment., Sometimes when youre flying on Air Force One and some corporate CEO is waiting to greet you and introduce you and this and that, but theyre really not talking to you. The FBI further alleged that Fattah accepted an $18,000 bribe from a man seeking an ambassadorship. 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. Fattah, a Philadelphia Democrat who served 20 years in Congress, was convicted in 2016 ofmisusing more than $600,000 in federal grants and charitable funds and was sentenced to 10 years in federal prison. Chaka Chip Fattah Jr., who never finished college, was convicted of using fraudulently obtained business loans to fund his jet-set lifestyle. Two older structures with a link to that past also sit on these grounds: a carriage house thought to date to the 1800s and a one-room cottage with sleeping loft believed to be the oldest structure on the property. ET. Ive won dozens and dozens of elections. Fattah also hired Vedermans girlfriend in his Capitol Hill office. Chaka Fattah (Arthur Davenport) was born on 21 November, 1956 in Philadelphia, PA. Fattah, frankly, doesnt care about the politicians who have backed his most well-knownopponent. All the while he did it with his own little West Philadelphia political machine, with the support ofpeople like Hughes and Councilwoman Cindy Bass. Yet despite his safe congressional seat, Fattah always wanted to be a power player back home in Philadelphia, where he was born, and it was this desire that ultimately led to his downfall and federal conviction. He also wrote the legislation for the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC). Im as innocent as you are under our system, Fattah said. Voters in Chinatown weigh in. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Sometimes when youre flying on Air Force One and some corporate CEO is waiting to greet you and introduce you and this and that, but theyre really not talking to you. 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. Im going to get these allegations behind me. He challenged the FBI's focus on his wife . The Justice Department wanted Fattah incarcerated for 17 to 21 years. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 21 November. 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. He defeated the incumbent 58%-42%. He touted the possibility that such a system would bring in so much money it would allow for greatly increased federal spending, saying the "excess funds" would "provide universal health care, support an equitable public school finance system, and fund economic development in urban and rural areas," in addition to extinguishing the national debt and eliminating all other federal taxes. said Fattah had rightly given up his ranking position. 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.. Meanwhile, Evans had $303,000 on hand and Muroff had $208,000. For context, heres what geographic area the second district covers: [googledocs url=https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=zpCiRP_-CLNE.kuzLxa1XGo9o height=480 width=640]. "And when it's all said and done, I would like for the story to be, 'We miss you on TV. The nonprofit efforts including a NASA-funded mobile science classroom emblazoned with Fattahs name that roamed Philadelphia during the mayoral campaign helped promote Fattahs political career, prosecutors said in their sentencing memo. Time Magazine named Fattah one of the 50 most promising leaders in the country. A spokeswoman for NBC10, Shawn Feddeman, said the station had no comment. Former Rep. Chaka Fattah, D-Pa., walks from the federal courthouse on Monday after his sentencing hearing in Philadelphia. Former Congressman Chaka Fattah sentenced to 10 years in prison for Bartle ordered Fattah to pay . 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. Congressman Chaka Fattah's wife, NBC10 News Anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah responds to allegations detailed in a Federal Indictment against her husband. He then served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1982 to 1988 and the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1988 to 1994. Chaka Fattah Jr. gets 5 years in prison, ordered to pay $1.1 million Fattah received an F rating from the National Rifle Association and an A+ rating from the Coalition on Gun Violence and the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence for his positions on gun control. "And that's something that a large segment of the population is not aware of. Neither Fattahs attorney,Sam Silver, northe prison bureau would comment to local media on why Fattah was released early from lockup, but his release appears to have been the call of the Bureau of Prisons. He is a member of famous with the age 66 years old group. The conference was designed to encourage minority students interest in STEM graduate and professional schools. Since 2006, Fattah has pioneered gun-buyback programs in Philadelphia with the Philadelphia Police. 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. Andthe Department of Justice contends its investigators werent unfairly targeting the congressman. Chenault-Fattah Reacts to Husband's Federal Indictment - NBC10 Philadelphia After charges were filed against Fattah last summer, not everyone in West Philadelphia, an area that was once on lock for the former congressmans voters base, was on Fattahs side and praying for his re-election. His wife is Renee Chenault-Fattah (m. 2001). This is a story about my funding of the bridge over the Schuylkill, but its really symbolic of a host of efforts across the district. 1601, and again in 2007 with H.R. / CBS/AP. Convicted Former Congressman Still Draws Estimated $1 Million Federal Lifetime Pension. Fattah was the lead Democrat responsible for the funding of the United States Department of Justice and the United States Attorney General. He even brought up that, earlier this month, charges were dropped against five Brooklyn teenagers accused of gang-raping a woman at a playground. That is not going to be the big deal of whatever is said about me, he says, pausing to point at the 22 articles that lay out his political accomplishments. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. If you're a human and see this, please ignore it. Congressional pensions are exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Democrat Rep. Dwight Evans now holds Fattah's seat in Congress. 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 Fattah convicted on federal corruption charges - Inquirer.com Renee Chenault-Fattah. Among the charges: Mail fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy, bribery and racketeering, which is essentially using a legit organization for illegal purposes. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper.