Chaka Chip Fattah Jr., who never finished college, was convicted of using fraudulently obtained business loans to fund his jet-set lifestyle. Chenault-Fattah did let me know, though, that her marriage remains intact. 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. Experts seem to agree that prosecutors have their hands full trying to prove theircharges because of a long paper trail (900,000 pages of government evidence) that will have to be nailed down in court. His wife, Philadelphia TV news anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah, took a leave after her husband's indictment and then quit in February. (That) has nothing to do with the fact that Ive been found on the wrong side of these questions by a jury.. Thats as he continues to collect his pension, as no member of Congress has ever been stripped of their pension. Fattah says he can get by largely on the fact that his name has been on the ballot for two decades. 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.. 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. 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. 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? 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. He talks about how charges were dropped againsta Temple professor recently accused ofbeing a Chinese spy. 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. People got to be real careful about taking out a guy like that, State Sen. Vincent Hughes, a longtime Fattah supporter, said last June. The bill died without attracting any co-sponsor. And Im going to leave it to others to figure out everybodys motives.. Chenault-Fattah, 57, could not be reached for comment Wednesday. Outside of legislative work Fattah has created a few local education initiatives for Philadelphia and Pennsylvania families as a state legislator and in cooperation with state and municipal governments, including the CORE scholars program and the annual Grad Conference. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. The two-story carriage house can serve as a separate residence for an in-law, aupair or guests. While in the U.S. House of Representatives. The couple, married in 2001, have one daughter, Chandler Fattah. While you have done much good, you also engaged in grave and widespread criminal activity, Bartle said. Legal Statement. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Sure, Fattahis still a member of several subcommittees that handle appropriations. Or rather, Chaka and Renee. He is stepfather to her daughter Cameron Chenault. 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. 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. He was never challenged in the Democratic primary until 2016, when he lost to Dwight E. Evans. Fattah insists the Justice Department, though led by fellow Democrats, has been out to get him and his family for years. 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). 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.' 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. Two of Fattahs political consultants pleaded guilty in the case and testified against him. This legislation will provide means to catalyze cooperative development, provide tools to entrepreneurs to bring cooperative to their communities, partner with financial institutions to provide grants a loans to developing businesses, offer technical training and professional development. Anchor Jim Rosenfield, speaking during Wednesday's 4 p.m. newscast, said Chenault-Fattah "is now on leave.". If you're a scraper, please click the link below :-) has allowed him to spend little on campaigning. 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. Convicted Former Congressman Still Draws Estimated $1 Million Federal Lifetime Pension. 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. Once he lost that race and faced a large debt, Fattah and his inner circle illegally used federal and charitable funds to help repay the loan. The tax credit assists any full-time college or university student or their families that claim the credit. On December 12, 2016, Fattah was sentenced to 10 years in prison as a result of the conviction. 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. 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. 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. "My dad died from pancreatic cancer. Renee Chenault-Fattah. "Our family misses and loves him. Fattah then repaid it with funds that included NASA grant money steered through an education nonprofit run by former staffers. Evans has already been endorsed by both Gov. The bill has national support from co-op and EOB advocates and members. , money, salary, income, and assets. Fattahwasnt known as the type of person who would frequentlyhelp other politicos around town raise money. Chaka Fattah is a former Democratic member of the U.S. House of Representatives. When charges came down last summer, House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., said Fattah had rightly given up his ranking position. 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. He previously served in the Pennsylvania Senate and the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. And for a while, it looked as if it was just that. So it was interesting to hear Chenault-Fattah spout facts and figures about Alzheimer's, which impacts about 5.7 million Americans. Meanwhile, Evans had $303,000 on hand and Muroff had $208,000. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. But the icing on this crooked cake is that Fattah is collecting a taxpayer-funded pension. HEMAP is a loan program designed to protect Pennsylvanians who, through no fault of their own, are financially unable to make their mortgage payments and are in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure. 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. ", NBC 10 News Anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah. We, journalists, typically know a little bit about alot of subjects. Fattah was convicted in June on a number of federal corruption charges, including bribery, racketeering, money laundering, bank fraud, mail and wire fraud, and filing false statements. 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. Follow Jerome Hudson on Twitter @jeromeehudson. 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. He reported for prison at Federal Correctional Institution, McKean near Lewis Run, Pennsylvania on January 25, 2017. 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. And I don't want to do anything to jeopardize that," she told me. He also mentioned Rep. Curt Weldon, a Republican congressman from the Philly burbs and a veritable 9/11 trutherwho served in Congress until 2007 when he lost to Joe Sestak, now a senate candidate. Ive helped tens of millions of people, Fattah said. His father said hes spoken to his son, who is looking forward to appealing his own federal case. Fattah supporters have raised questions about whether he received a fair trial, noting that one of the jurors was dismissed from the case. 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. Fattah was a former state lawmaker and Philadelphia official who was elected to Congress in 1994. 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. Fattah, frankly, doesnt care about the politicians who have backed his most well-knownopponent. He's doing well. In Fattahs eyes, this people being wrongly accused happens all the time. 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.". 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. 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. On August 9, 2018, however, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit overturned Fattahs bribery convictions. BlackPast.org is a 501(c)(3) non-profit and our EIN is 26-1625373. Meanwhile, Evans had $303,000 on hand and Muroff had $208,000. Tom Wolf and Mayor Jim Kenney, the latter ofwhom praised Evans for being someone who has built relationships and is not a divisive figure.. "After this, I would like to do something around cancer in our community," she said. Some are fromhis own office. 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. In 2002, he was named to the PoliticsPA list of Best Dressed Legislators, noting his "excellence in haberdashery.". Fattah introduced "Communities Committed to College", H.R. Congressman Chaka Fattah, a Philadelphia Democrat, speaks to the center for American Progress in 2010. Do you find this information helpful? It is unclear but the Federal Bureau of Prisons database shows he is in a residential reentry center in Philadelphia. See also: United States House of Representatives elections in Pennsylvania, 2010#District 2. More by Anna Orso. The congressman's wife, NBC10 news anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah, was not in the courtroom. 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. The jury in his case found the congressman took an illegal $1 million loan to prop up a failed 2007 run for Philadelphia mayor. Former Rep. Chaka Fattah, D-Pa., walks from the federal courthouse on Monday after his sentencing hearing in Philadelphia. We will update Chaka Fattah's Height, weight, Body Measurements, Eye Color, Hair Color, Shoe & Dress size soon as possible. Since 2006, Fattah has pioneered gun-buyback programs in Philadelphia with the Philadelphia Police. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. Chenault-Fattah, who is also a lawyer,. 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. ButFattah says he wont dignify the charges by getting into the nitty-gritty. Im going to get these allegations behind me. Anna Orso was a reporter/curator at Billy Penn from 2014 to 2017. Co-ops have a broad base and connection to community in the Philadelphia area. Fattah won his first election in 1982 by 58 votes , defeating a party-favored incumbent for the 192nd house seat in the Pennsylvania . 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. Local news should be free and accessible, which is why we ask readers like you to support our work rather than charging a fee to see it. 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. 20072023 Blackpast.org. Andthe Department of Justice contends its investigators werent unfairly targeting the congressman. The prize? They dont even have to believe in me. 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. But this is only part of the story. He doesnt have any relationships, she told The Inquirer at the time. His wife, Philadelphia TV news anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah, took a leave after her husband's indictment and then quit in February. The Congressman has an older son, Chaka Fattah, Jr., also a politician, who was convicted of felony bank and tax fraud in February 2016. 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. Congressman Chaka Fattah's wife, NBC10 News Anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah responds to allegations detailed in a Federal Indictment against her husband. The kitchen is totally up-to-date with the requisite granite countertops, stainless steel high-end appliances, and island workspace. Fattah, 60, served 22 years in Congress . But Fattah says hes also more committed now than he ever has been. 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. All the while he did it with his own little West Philadelphia political machine, with the support ofpeople like Hughes and Councilwoman Cindy Bass. Market data provided by Factset. The latest property being unloaded in the Disgraced Pol Hit Parade went on the market last Tuesday. She's done with that. They have two school-age children. Prosecutors say Fattah tried to conceal an $18,000 bribe from Vederman by pretending he sold a Porsche to the man. The credit is unique in that families under a set income without a tax liability are eligible for a tax rebate. Fattah and his wife used the $18,000 for a down payment on a Poconos vacation home. But now, with about two months to go before the primary, three challengers have emerged: Longtime Northwest Philly state Rep. Dwight Evans, Lower Merion Township Commissioner Brian Gordon and ward leader Dan Muroff. ET. 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. 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. The program offers Philadelphians the chance to exchange firearms for vouchers for groceries or other goods. They have one daughter, Chandler Fattah. If you're a human and see this, please ignore it. The younger Fattah is serving a five-year sentence. 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. The latest bill places more focus on eliminating the federal debt. In 2007 Fattah launched an unsuccessful bid for Mayor of Philadelphia. Evans is the challenger who could do the most damage to Fattahs campaign for re-election. With that said, endorsements can sometimes help win elections. I don't want to say anything about the case because it's being appealed. Thats an area where Evans whos successfully stumped for other candidates across the state has him beat. 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. Matt Rourke/AP A federal jury has sentenced former Rep. Chaka. All rights reserved. Committed to funding neuroscience research. In May 1986, he received his master's degree in Governmental Administration from the University of Pennsylvania's Fels Institute of Government. Wisely, Chenault-Fattah, now 60, decided to stick to what she's known for, which is telling stories. This is my effort to get rid of public housing high rises in Philadelphia. 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/. Note that clicking the link below will block access to this site for 24 hours. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. AOTC provides up to $2500 tax credit for families to assist them with the cost of college. Just days later, the U.S. Supreme Court issued its decision in McDonnell v. United States which altered the legal definition of bribery to exclude "pay for access." Advertisement 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. Market data provided by Factset. If you know Chaka, he is the eternal optimist. Both the main home and the carriage house have central air, and there are two garages on the property as well. 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. At press time, she'd raised about $10,000 of the $40,000 she needs. The reason we must take an educated guess? 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. In the 2016 election, Fattah was ousted in the Democratic primarythe real contest in his heavily Democratic, black-majority districtto state representative Dwight Evans. Fattah grew up in Philadelphia, attending Overbrook High School and the Community College of Philadelphia. But money more oftendoes. 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 Voters in Chinatown weigh in. His parents divorced when he was young, and his mother soon remarried to a man she met at a national conference on black power in 1968. Read the news of the day in less than 10 minutes not that were counting. And then Im going to continue my work in the Congress, he said. 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. 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. or redistributed. From the outside, things seem painfulfor Fattahs family. Updated: 12/12/2016 12:02 PM EST. 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. 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. Chaka Fattah with Obama aide Valerie Jarrett on Air Force One. Each touts something Fattah did while in the United States Congress representing Philadelphia. Evans came in fifth of five.) Fattah also hired Vedermans girlfriend in his Capitol Hill office. All Rights Reserved. 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. Chaka Fattah 1956 . He even lobbied President Barack Obama on the friends behalf, to no avail. His candidacy announcement took place next to the recently completed Microsoft School of the Future in the city's Parkside neighborhood to emphasize his campaign platform of better educational opportunities for city youth. These are the people that have been voting for me and praying for me for all these years.. 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. I kind of want to leave it there.". Fattah insists the Justice Department racketeering case is politically motivated. They include former Philadelphia Deputy Mayor Herbert Vederman, of Palm Springs, Florida, who had sought the 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 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. By Fattahs own assessment, he could soonhold the purse strings of a nation in his hands. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The taskforce included both liberal and conservative Democrats, gun owners and Representatives from various cities. 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. 2451. Fattah's third wife, Renee Chenault-Fattah, is a former Philadelphia television news broadcaster.