Verdict reached in Pennsylvania congressman’s bribery case

U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (SHAW’-kah fa-TAH’) was found guilty Tuesday of racketeering, fraud, money laundering and other counts.

But on Tuesday, Fattah’s 30-year political career appeared in tatters after a federal jury convicted him of financial schemes detailed in a racketeering indictment.

Rep. Chaka Fattah, center, D-Pa., walks Tuesday after leaving the federal courthouse in Philadelphia after being convicted.

The charges stemmed from schemes to repay an illegal $1 million loan to Fattah’s failed 2007 Philadelphia mayoral campaign, with the Justice Department arguing that Fattah used federal grants and nonprofit funds, routed through campaign consultants to repay the loan.

During the race, Fattah accepted an illegal secret $1 million loan from a former chief executive officer of student loan servicer SLM Corp, or Sallie Mae, according to authorities.

He will remain free on bail. Sentencing was set for October 4.

Fattah – who was defeated in a Democratic primary in April in his bid for a 12th term in Congress – was convicted of steering federal funds to non-profits he controlled and then skimming that money to pay off debts for his unsuccessful run for mayor of Philadelphia in 2007. His current term ends January 2.

Fattah’s son, Chaka Fattah Jr, is already serving a five-year term in an overlapping fraud case related to loans associated with a business he ran. A jury found he took part in a scheme as a subcontractor to defraud the Philadelphia school district.

Under the House’s Code of Conduct, a lawmaker who is convicted is not to vote in committee or in the full House if the punishment for his conviction may be two or more years’ imprisonment. The lead racketeering count alone carries a potential 20-year maximum, although the guideline range could be far lower.

In exchange, Vederman provided money and other items of value to Fattah, the DOJ said. Former Gov. Ed Rendell – a Democrat who testified for Vederman, his deputy when Rendell was mayor of Philadelphia – later said that prosecutors don’t understand how politics work.

Vederman helped support Fattah’s South African nanny and paid $18,000 for a Porsche owned by Fattah’s TV anchor wife.

“The nanny, the Porsche and the Poconos, they weren’t part of a bribery scheme”, Fattah lawyer Samuel Silver said in closing arguments.

Fattah’s jovial and calm demeanor didn’t change much as the verdict was read, said NBC10’s Deanna Durante who was in the courtroom. “Those were all overreaches by the prosecution”. “Today’s convictions should send a message that the Justice Department will vigorously investigate and prosecute political corruption wherever it takes place, and uphold the principles of honesty and integrity that are the foundation of our government”.