Anchor denies sham Porsche sale; congressman husband charged

A letter from Chenault-Fattah that was forwarded to the television station on Thursday states that incorrect information surrounding the $18,000 sale of a 1989 Porsche to Herbert Vederman is being reported.

Fattah’s office had no immediate comment on the charges.

“As charged in the indictment, Congressman Fattah and his associates embarked on a wide-ranging conspiracy involving bribery, concealment of unlawful campaign contributions and theft of charitable and federal funds to advance their own personal interests”, Caldwell said in a statement.

Thursday on NewsOne Now, Roland Martin talked with Bob Bogle, President/CEO of the Philadelphia Tribune, WURD’s Nick Taliaferro, host of The Nick Taliaferro Show, and former Justice Department Prosecutor Paul Butler about the 29-count indictment filed against Fattah. “These types of criminal acts betray the public trust and undermine faith in government”. The money was from a wealthy supporter but then disguised as a loan to a consulting company.

“It has remained undriven in our garage for 3 years now because on advice of counsel… we were instructed to do nothing with the auto”, Chenault-Fattah said.

Fattah is also accused of misusing campaign funds to repay his son’s $23,000 student loan debt.

Among a slew of other allegedly fraudulent fiscal maneuvers by those named in the indictment, Fattah allegedly attempted in 2008 to secure Vederman with an ambassadorship or appointment to the United State Trade Commission.

“As part of this scheme, the indictment alleges that the defendants sought to hide an $18,000 bribe payment from Vederman to Fattah by disguising it as a payment for a sham auto sale that never actually took place”, according to the justice department.

“In exchange, Vederman provided money and other items of value to Fattah”.

In yet another alleged scheme, it’s alleged that Karen Nicholas obtained $50,000 in federal grant money that was supposed to be used by the Educational Advancement Alliance that would support a conference on higher education.

She says Fattah has been a tireless advocate for American families for 20 years.

Her husband has also denied wrongdoing.

Chaka Fattah (né Arthur Davenport), the Democratic congressman who represents part of Philadelphia and its environs, has never been challenged in a primary election. The 2nd Congressional District covers Lower Merion Township and Narberth Borough in Montgomery County and sections of Southwest Philadelphia, Center City and Northwest Philadelphia, including Chestnut Hill, East Falls, East and West Mt. Airy, Germantown, Manayunk and Roxborough.

Pennsylvania Congressman Chaka Fattah (SHAH’-kah fa-TAH’) has been indicted on charges he misappropriated hundreds of thousands of dollars of federal, charitable and campaign funds.