"My dad died from pancreatic cancer. Federal agents also saw the car in Fattah's garage in March 2014, the indictment says, more than two years after the transaction supposedly occurred. And his family has fallen with him. In 2005, Fattah introduced the bill again with H.R. He talks about how former Mayor Michael Nutter. Now I know its actually people in the barbershops and the beauty salons. Fattah told Bartle that he had helped tens of millions of people during his time in office, despite the crimes hed been convicted of committing. If youve ever dreamed of living like a baron for less than a million bucks, nows your chance: the Fattahs loss is your gain. Fattah, who began his career in the Pennsylvania statehouse and entered Congress in 1995, lost the spring Democratic primary days before his trial began and resigned after his conviction in June. 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. Former Democratic Rep. Chaka Fattah (Pa.) was sentenced to 10 years in prison Monday by a federal judge in Philadelphia. Theyre kind of dealing with the position, Fattah said. Ambition Is an Asset. 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. or redistributed. On August 9, 2018, however, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit overturned Fattahs bribery convictions. He represented the 2nd Congressional District of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania from 1994 to 2016. He won a seat on the powerful Appropriations Committee, where he was able to steer millions of dollars in earmarks back home. Voting ina new congressman would be, in his words, a Chip Kelly trade something that, roughly speaking, changes the team but for the worse. At least 12 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Indonesia fuel depot fire kills 18; more than a dozen missing, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, Man charged for alleged involvement in 2 transformer explosions, Nikki Haley slams potential GOP contenders, and Trump and George W. Bush, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Alex Murdaugh trial: What to know about the double murder case, Rep. Chaka Fattah responds to corruption charges: "This is not Deflate-gate", NTSB to investigate in-flight turbulence that left 1 passenger dead, Pittsburgh woman missing for 31 years found alive in Puerto Rico, convicted of misspending government grants and charity money to fund his campaign and personal expenses. has allowed him to spend little on campaigning. U.S. District Judge Harvey Bartle called the Philadelphia Democrats crimes astonishing given that he and his wife had an annual income that put them at or near the top 1 percent.. Read the news of the day in less than 10 minutes not that were counting. Renee Chenault-Fattah. In the middle of Kelly territory, this 1930 Cotswold-style home lets you live the life of grace. 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. 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. 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. Congressman Chaka Fattah, November 20, 2014. It is unclear but the Federal Bureau of Prisons database shows he is in a residential reentry center in Philadelphia. 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. During his sentencing in 2016, U.S. District Judge Harvey Bartle called the Philadelphia-area lawmaker's crimes "astonishing" given that he and his TV anchor wife had a $500,000 annual income that put them at or near the "top 1 percent.". He's currently serving a 10-year prison sentence. 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. Chaka "Chip" Fattah Jr., who never finished college, was convicted of using fraudulently obtained business loans to fund his jet-set lifestyle. 2016 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Phillys hot podcast studio: How two longtime producers are growing the citys audio scene, Meet the 10 entrepreneurs vying set up shop inside Philly rec centers, Tax cuts, a new forensic lab, library service, hotspot help: Takeaways from Mayor Kenneys final city budget proposal, A real art project at Quinta Brunsons former school in West Philly mirrors the Abbott Elementary Mural Arts episode, Former Councilmember Bobby Henon sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for taking bribes, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. A handful of names circulated, from District Attorney Seth Williams to now former Mayor Michael Nutter. Theyre kind of dealing with the position, Fattah said. Social Activism Brings a Name Change. He talks about how former Mayor Michael Nutter spent about a third of whatbusinessman Tom Knox did in the 2007 mayoral race. Anecdotally, from what Ive seen, I wouldnt count him as the most popular of Philadelphia politicians., Retired Councilwoman Marian Tasco didnt mince words in 2006 when Fattah was in the process of running for mayor. They include former Philadelphia Deputy Mayor Herbert Vederman, of Palm Springs, Florida, who had sought the ambassadorship. ", She added, "This is a disease that has no effective treatment and no cure.". 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. Its main floor features a living room and great room on either side of a central fireplace, a modern kitchen, a TV room with powder room and a laundry. The spacious main residence is in excellent shape and retains most of its Old English charm. Fattah, a Democrat formerly representing Pennsylvanias second congressional district, was found guilty in June 2016. A small donation would help us keep this available to all. 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. Fattahwasnt known as the type of person who would frequentlyhelp other politicos around town raise money. The bill has national support from co-op and EOB advocates and members. Congressman Chaka Fattah's wife, NBC10 News Anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah responds to allegations detailed in a Federal Indictment against her husband. But Fattah says hes also more committed now than he ever has been. Updated: 12/12/2016 12:02 PM EST. Fattah was a former state lawmaker and Philadelphia official who was elected to Congress in 1994. He is from . Fattah compared himself to Rep. Joseph McDade, D-Pa., and Rep. Floyd Flake, D-N.Y., two former congressman charged in the 90s with corruption who were both later acquitted. A solarium with its own fireplace off the living room and a library paneled in knotty pine with built-in bookshelves are other distinctive elements. She is on leave from her anchor job. 2451. 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. And then Im going to continue my work in the Congress, he said. 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. On June 21, 2016, Fattah was convicted of all charges, including racketeering conspiracy, bribery, bank fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, making false statements to a financial institution, and falsification of records. AOTC provides up to $2500 tax credit for families to assist them with the cost of college. 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. Fattah, 60, served 22 years in Congress before losing a Democratic primary in April. ", NBC 10 News Anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah. 3759) which proposed to have the U.S. Treasury conduct a one-year feasibility study of a 1 percent transaction fee imposed on transactions made at any financial institution. Some of the earliest charges stem from Fattahs failed bid for Philadelphia mayor in 2007, when his early lead was dwindling just weeks before the primary and he was running low on cash. 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. She sat in the courtroom Monday typing on an iPad during the hearing. And the most recent campaign finance reports filed with the Federal Elections Commission show Fattah, who makes $174,000 a year in congressional salary, had less than $6,000 in his campaign coffers as of Dec. 31. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Ive helped tens of millions of people, Fattah said. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. For 16 minutes, the 59-year-old describes each one in varying detail. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit in Philadelphia remanded for new sentencing and Fattah was again sentenced to 10 years on July 12, 2019. First published on December 12, 2016 / 12:36 PM. 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. He brings up that former Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush spent $136 million compared to Donald Trumps $11 million. The younger Fattah is serving a five-year sentence. Matt Rourke/AP A federal jury has sentenced former Rep. Chaka. Fattah is also the creator of Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs (GEAR UP). 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. Committed to fair housing. He resigned from Congress two days later. On February 23, 2010, Fattah reintroduced the bill as the "Debt Free America Act," (H.R. A jury this year found that Fattah took an illegal $1 million loan from a wealthy friend to prop up his failed 2007 campaign for Philadelphia mayor. He talks about how charges were dropped againsta Temple professor recently accused ofbeing a Chinese spy. Chaka Chip Fattah Jr., who never finished college, was convicted of using fraudulently obtained business loans to fund his jet-set lifestyle. The 22-year Congressman, indicted on federal corruption charges, grants a rare interview as he faces an unprecedented challenge. This was a significant decrease from the 2012 election, when Fattah received 302,746 votes, more votes than any other member of the House of Representatives for that election. He was ordered to report to prison by Jan. 25, 2017. Sure, Fattahis still a member of several subcommittees that handle appropriations. 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. From the outside, things seem painfulfor Fattahs family. 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. 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.. 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. 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. 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. Two days later, according to the indictment, the Fattahs had their mortgage for the Poconos property approved. The loan was paid back using federal grant money intended for nonprofit organizations affiliated with Fattah. Fattah was the lead Democrat responsible for funding some of the largest science agencies in the federal system (NASA, NSF, Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). In Fattahs eyes, this people being wrongly accused happens all the time. Get your daily rundown of Philly happenings in less than 10 minutes, Philadelphia local news: Neighborhoods, politics, food, and fun, Get Philly smart with BPs free daily newsletter. 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. When I reached out to her on Tuesday, she was about to take part in a round-table discussion organized by Us Against Alzheimer's. "I love my husband. Fattah supporters have raised questions about whether he received a fair trial, noting that one of the jurors was dismissed from the case. Fattah is only 64 years old, so his estimated lifetime pension is $1 million. Market data provided by Factset. 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. His parents divorced, and his mother married David Fattah, changed her name to Falaka Fattah, and changed her sons name as well. 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 that's something that a large segment of the population is not aware of. In the 2014 election, Fattah received 181,141 votes, or 87.7% of the vote, to 25,397, or 12.3%, to his Republican opponent, Armond James, a school teacher with no prior political experience. In 2007 Fattah launched an unsuccessful bid for Mayor of Philadelphia. All rights reserved. On December 12, 2016, Fattah was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Chaka Fattah 1956 . All the while he did it with his own little West Philadelphia political machine, with the support ofpeople like Hughes and Councilwoman Cindy Bass. (Of note: Fattah came in fourth in that race. In December 2011, Fattah through his role on the Appropriations Committee, directed the OSTP to establish an Interagency Working Group on Neuroscience (IWGN). The tax credit assists any full-time college or university student or their families that claim the credit. Fattah introduced "Communities Committed to College", H.R. Fattah eventually came in fourth in the Democratic primary, close behind fellow Congressman Bob Brady but well behind former city councilman Michael Nutter, who went on to win the fall general election handily. But the icing on this crooked cake is that Fattah is collecting a taxpayer-funded pension. He even lobbied President Barack Obama on the friends behalf, to no avail. Now all of a sudden he wants to run for mayor and he shows up dispensing checks. Hes done lots of favors for lots of people, Dilworth said. His father said hes spoken to his son, who is looking forward to appealing his own federal case. 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. 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. While a court of appeals in 2018 threw out some of the bribery from Fattahs conviction, a judge last year kept his 10-year sentence intact. Chenault-Fattah did let me know, though, that her marriage remains intact. On July 29, 2015, Fattah and a group of associates were indicted on federal charges related to their alleged roles in a racketeering and influence peddling conspiracy. By Fattahs own assessment, he could soonhold the purse strings of a nation in his hands. Fattah's third wife, Renee Chenault-Fattah, is a former Philadelphia television news broadcaster. Chenault-Fattah, who is also a lawyer,. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Fattah and the other co-conspirators submitted false billing statements to his mayoral campaign in order to keep the loan secret. 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. Two of Fattah's political consultants and accomplices pleaded guilty and testified against him. "Our family misses and loves him. The couple has already cleared out of the place for their new digs Chaka at a minimum-security Federal prison camp in western Pennsylvania for the next 10 years, Renee at an undisclosed location but they left it in mint condition and move-in ready. His political life. For these additional counts, Fattah was again sentenced to 10 years of incarceration on July 12, 2019. He says hes spent more than $300,000 paying for his legal defense. The couple, married in 2001, have one daughter, Chandler Fattah. Fattah spent two decades in Congress before losing the primary this year. Democrat Rep. Dwight Evans now holds Fattah's seat in Congress. He won landslide after landslide every two years since 1994 without facing a formidable opponent once in the Democratic primary, and certainly not in the general election. Twenty-twoarticles and press releases are strewn across a dark wood table in the board room of Congressman Chaka Fattahs West Philly office. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Evans is the challenger who could do the most damage to Fattahs campaign for re-election. 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. Chaka Fattah with Obama aide Valerie Jarrett on Air Force One. The FBI further alleged that Fattah accepted an $18,000 bribe from a man seeking an ambassadorship. And Im going to leave it to others to figure out everybodys motives.. Fattah, who earned $174,000 as a congressman, is married to longtime Philadelphia news anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah. The indictment says Chenault-Fattah e-mailed Vederman in January 2012 about purchasing her car. In the late 1990s she broadcast segments on her own pregnancy, which was achieved through anonymous artificial insemination. They have one daughter, Chandler Fattah. The Pennsylvania Democrats son, Chaka Fattah Jr., is already in prison on bank and tax fraud charges. This dominancehas allowed him to spend little on campaigning, save for his 2007 bid for mayor. Sign up for the free Billy Penn newsletter and stay in the know, Fattahwasnt known as the type of person who would frequentlyhelp other politicos around town raise money. 1579. I got to ask former WCAU-TV anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah anything I wanted about Alzheimer's disease. 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. 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. Chaka "Chip" Fattah Jr., who never finished college, was convicted of using fraudulently obtained business loans to fund his jet-set lifestyle. Committed to fair housing. Discover Chaka Fattah's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Theyre from the White House. What hewilladmit: Raising cash for re-election while under the cloud of federal indictmenthas been a struggle. 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. After emerging as a mayoral candidate, Fattah came under fire from the Philadelphia Fraternal Order of Police for his repeated calls to grant a new trial to Mumia Abu-Jamal, who was convicted of murdering police officer Daniel Faulkner in 1981; he also was criticized for possibly unethical campaign spending, based on new campaign finance rules adopted by the city of Philadelphia. Former Democratic Rep. Chaka Fattah (Pa.) was sentenced to 10 years in prison Monday by a federal judge in Philadelphia. NBC10's Deanna Durante explains how. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. said Fattah had rightly given up his ranking position. Since 2006, Fattah has pioneered gun-buyback programs in Philadelphia with the Philadelphia Police. 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 . 1601, and again in 2007 with H.R. Anna Orso was a reporter/curator at Billy Penn from 2014 to 2017. Fattah used the money to pay personal expenses, including his taxes. Do you find this information helpful? Each touts something Fattah did while in the United States Congress representing Philadelphia. Who Is Chaka Fattah's Wife? "People will say, 'We miss seeing you on TV and it's such a shame what happened to your husband and your family," Chenault-Fattah said. 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. He reported for prison at Federal Correctional Institution, McKean near Lewis Run, Pennsylvania on January 25, 2017. And for a while, it looked as if it was just that. He is a member of famous with the age 66 years old group. Or rather, Chaka and Renee. He added: I dont think that not having somebody on the appropriations committee disenfranchises the city.. In 1984, Fattah completed the Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. The Fattahs used the cash to help buy a $425,000 vacation house in the Poconos, the indictment says, but Chenault-Fattah kept the Porsche - and even renewed its registration and took it to an auto shop months after signing the title over to the lobbyist, Herbert Vederman. Two of Fattahs political consultants pleaded guilty in the case and testified against him. Congressman Chaka Fattah. But he was charged in 2015, and then convicted on all counts the following year. The conference brought together national leaders in cooperative development to share best practices to create powerful change for their organizations. Fattahmakes sure to note, too, that Sims raised $230,000 to challenge him for Congressthis year and didnt make it to filing day. The four others convicted at trial will be sentenced later this week. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. The #WasteOfTheDay is presented by the forensic auditors at OpenTheBooks.com. Time Magazine named Fattah one of the 50 most promising leaders in the country. Meanwhile, Evans had $303,000 on hand and Muroff had $208,000. Credit NBC10. Chenault-Fattah is focusing her attention on Alzheimer's disease and the disproportionate way it affects people of color. Voters in Chinatown weigh in. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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.