A lawyer before she became a journalist, Chenault-Fattah is said to earn a substantial salary from NBC10. 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, 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. December 12, 2016 / 12:36 PM 3941-45 W. Netherfield Rd., Philadelphia, Pa. 19129 | TREND images via Elfant Wissahickon Realtors. In 2002, he introduced the "Student Bill of Rights", H.R. 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. Meanwhile, Evans had $303,000 on hand and Muroff had $208,000. If BP helped inform you, join as a member today! A year earlier in 2015, Fattah was indicted on charges of bribery, money laundering, and bank and mail fraud, among other charges, making him vulnerable in the primary. first as a Wall Street lawyer and later a TV broadcaster, Indiegogo crowd-funding website for a new documentary, California residents do not sell my data request. makes sure to note, too, that Sims raised $230,000 to challenge him for Congressthis year and didnt make it to filing day. The Justice Department wanted Fattah incarcerated for 17 to 21 years. While in the U.S. House of Representatives. In May 2013, Fattah introduced the Creating Jobs through Cooperatives Act (HR 2437). Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. They have one daughter, Chandler Fattah. Fattah introduced "Communities Committed to College", H.R. She was cited in the case over the sham sale of her Porsche,. He also wrote the legislation for the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC). 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. 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." Among the charges: Mail fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy, bribery and racketeering, which is essentially using a legit organization for illegal purposes. 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. Committed to funding neuroscience research. 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. On December 12, 2016, Fattah was sentenced to 10 years in prison. 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. A source speculated to The Philadelphia Inquirer that the decision could be tied to coronavirus concerns. 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. NBC10's Deanna Durante explains how. Congressman William Gray decided to resign. 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. Fattah, 60, served 22 years in Congress . Fattah used the money to pay personal expenses, including his taxes. 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. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Thats an area where Evans whos successfully stumped for other candidates across the state has him beat. Follow Jerome Hudson on Twitter @jeromeehudson. The latest bill places more focus on eliminating the federal debt. Read the news of the day in less than 10 minutes not that were counting. He was never challenged in the Democratic primary until 2016, when he lost to Dwight E. Evans. Fattah, who earned $174,000 as a congressman, is married to longtime Philadelphia news anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. What hewilladmit: Raising cash for re-election while under the cloud of federal indictmenthas been a struggle. "I love my husband. For example, Fattah used $23,000 in nonprofit funds to repay his sons college loans and took an $18,000 bribe to try to help a friend become an ambassador. He's currently serving a 10-year prison sentence. All rights reserved. The taskforce included both liberal and conservative Democrats, gun owners and Representatives from various cities. 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. Fattah's wife, Renee Chenault-Fattah, was implicated in the indictment against the congressman and no longer sits at the anchor desk at NBC 10 where she worked for nearly 25 years. Philadelphia news outlets have filed a motion to unseal court documents related to that dismissal. He brings up that former Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush spent $136 million compared to Donald Trumps $11 million. ( Photo via Facebook ), California residents do not sell my data request. 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. She is on leave from her anchor job. 20072023 Blackpast.org. On July 12, 2019, a Philadelphia judge sentenced Fattah to 10 years in federal prison for public corruption. Chaka Fattah (Arthur Davenport) was born on 21 November, 1956 in Philadelphia, PA. I kind of want to leave it there.". Prosecutors say he also used $27,000 in charity funds to pay down his son's college loans and took an $18,000 bribe to help a friend become an ambassador. Congressional pensions are exempt from disclosure under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). Fattah has 22 years in the U.S. House of Representatives, and another 12 in public service to rattle off when anyone asks why hes running for re-election to represent the second congressional district for a 12th term. If youve ever dreamed of living like a baron for less than a million bucks, nows your chance: the Fattahs loss is your gain. He is from . He won a seat on the powerful Appropriations Committee, where he was able to steer millions of dollars in earmarks back home. Chenault-Fattah, who is also a lawyer,. Politician. This is my effort to get rid of public housing high rises in Philadelphia. 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. Some are fromhis own office. More by Anna Orso. Fattah is married to his third wife, Renee Chenault-Fattah, a former Philadelphia television news broadcaster on WCAU-TV (NBC 10). 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. 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. Theyre both expected to start spending soon on television ads to increase name recognition in the district. Or rather, Chaka and Renee. Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. 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. 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. He then served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1982 to 1988 and the Pennsylvania State Senate from 1988 to 1994. You abused your trust, time and time again.. (Of note: Fattah came in fourth in that race. Fattah spent two decades in Congress before losing the primary this year. The younger Fattah is serving a five-year sentence. First published on December 12, 2016 / 12:36 PM. The 22-year Congressman, indicted on federal corruption charges, grants a rare interview as he faces an unprecedented challenge. 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. 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. His bill calls for $25 million federal investment and technical assistance to cooperatives through a new National Cooperative Development Center. Fattah and his wife used the $18,000 for a down payment on a Poconos vacation home. 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. State Rep. Brian Sims declared himself a challenger, then dropped out before filing day. Chaka Fattah was born Arthur Davenport on November 21, 1956 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Arthur Davenport and Frances Brown. "Almost every chronic illness hits us harder," she said, referring to African Americans. 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. He challenged the FBI's focus on his wife . 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 . 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 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. 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. Twenty-twoarticles and press releases are strewn across a dark wood table in the board room of Congressman Chaka Fattahs West Philly office. By Fattahs own assessment, he could soonhold the purse strings of a nation in his hands. He is stepfather to her daughter Cameron Chenault. His wife is Renee Chenault-Fattah (m. 2001). Chaka Fattah (born Arthur Davenport; November 21, 1956) is an American politician from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania who served as a Democratic member of the U.S. House for Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district from 1995 to 2016. 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. He was sentenced on Dec. 12, 2016 to 10 years in prison and he reported to Federal Correctional Institution, McKean on Jan. 25, 2017. Fox News Flash top headlines are here. This is my tuition and tax credit program this has helped millions of families. ButFattah says he wont dignify the charges by getting into the nitty-gritty. The congressman's wife, NBC10 news anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah, was not in the courtroom. But this time around, she intends to be an advocate forcauses about which she's passionate. 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 won the general election with 86% of the vote. 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. Now all of a sudden he wants to run for mayor and he shows up dispensing checks. He says at least 25 million people have been impacted by his programs (there are 715,000 people in hisdistrict, 1.5 million in Philadelphiaand 12.8 million in the state), and that there isnt a single person in the citywho has not been touched in some significant, positive way by something he put in place. The couple, married in 2001, have one daughter, Chandler Fattah. Wheres he been?, Love Philly? After Congress tightened ethics laws, convicted members of Congress were supposed to lose federal pensions. He even lobbied President Barack Obama on the friends behalf, to no avail. (Instead of a paywall). The latest property being unloaded in the Disgraced Pol Hit Parade went on the market last Tuesday. 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. 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. Note that clicking the link below will block access to this site for 24 hours. Legal Statement. 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. Fattah was a former state lawmaker and Philadelphia official who was elected to Congress in 1994. In 1984, Fattah completed the Program for Senior Executives in State and Local Government at Harvard University's John F. Kennedy School of Government. On Monday, U.S. District Judge sentenced Fattah to 10 years in prison. Office of Property Assessment records show the home was put in Renee Chenault-Fattahs name via a nominal transaction in 2006. Im as innocent as you are under our system, Fattah said. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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. He added: I dont think that not having somebody on the appropriations committee disenfranchises the city.. On July 29, 2015, Fattah and four of his associates, Bonnie Bowser, Karen Nicholas, Herbert Verderman and Robert Brand were indicted for their alleged roles in a racketeering conspiracy involving several schemes that were intended to further the political and financial interests of the defendants and others by, among other tactics, misappropriating hundreds of thousands of dollars of federal, charitable and campaign funds. Both the main home and the carriage house have central air, and there are two garages on the property as well. His parents divorced, and his mother married David Fattah, changed her name to Falaka Fattah, and changed her sons name as well. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! He says hes spent more than $300,000 paying for his legal defense. 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/. 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. "After this, I would like to do something around cancer in our community," she said. The loan was paid back using federal grant money intended for nonprofit organizations affiliated with Fattah. 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. 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. Im going to win this election. 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. 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. All rights reserved. Chaka Fattah's income source is mostly from being a successful . The jury in his case found the congressman took an illegal $1 million loan to prop up a failed 2007 run for Philadelphia mayor. In 1994, Fattah decided to challenge Blackwell in the Democratic primary. Co-ops have a broad base and connection to community in the Philadelphia area. 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. He was ordered to report to prison by Jan. 25, 2017. Chaka Fattah Jr., Frances Fattah, Chandler Faith Fattah, Cameron Chenault. Fattah then repaid it with funds that included NASA grant money steered through an education nonprofit run by former staffers. Fattah is only 64 years old, so his estimated lifetime pension is $1 million. Its very hard he said. So it was interesting to hear Chenault-Fattah spout facts and figures about Alzheimer's, which impacts about 5.7 million Americans. Theyre kind of dealing with the position, Fattah said. 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. Updated at 3:25 p.m. 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. 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. He's currently serving a 10-year prison sentence. Fattah resigned from office on June 23, 2016, following a racketeering conviction. 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 . 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 father said hes spoken to his son, who is looking forward to appealing his own federal case. So heres whatprosecutors say happened: Fattah and four of his close associates were indicted by federal prosecutors with the Department of Justice in July after they poked around in the congressmans finances for the better part of eight years. Born in Philadelphia on November 21, 1956, Chaka Fattah grew up with political ideas and even developed his own political propaganda for other candidates at the age of 14. The tax credit assists any full-time college or university student or their families that claim the credit. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. Fattah insists the Justice Department racketeering case is politically motivated. On February 23, 2010, Fattah reintroduced the bill as the "Debt Free America Act," (H.R. 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. She's done with that. While you have done much good, you also engaged in grave and widespread criminal activity, Bartle said. Ive helped tens of millions of people, Fattah said. | AP Photo. Congressman Chaka Fattah, a Philadelphia Democrat, speaks to the center for American Progress in 2010. Sure, Fattahis still a member of several subcommittees that handle appropriations. was indicted on federal corruption charges on Wednesday in connection with fraud around his unsuccessful 2007 campaign for mayor of Philadelphia. Now I know its actually people in the barbershops and the beauty salons.

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