WWTBAM Bored

PHILADELPHIA (CBS) — Congressman Chaka Fattah was named in an indictment filed today, along with four other people: two businessmen and two members of his staff.

They are charged with multiple counts of conspiracy, racketeering, bribery, and other charges.

The indictment talks about five schemes going back to 2007 when the congressman ran unsuccessfully for Mayor of Philadelphia.
At that time the indictment says he borrowed a million dollars from a wealthy supporter. That was an illegal contribution, so he disguised it, the indictment says, as a loan to a consulting company. Then to pay it back, the indictment alleges, he used funds from his non-profit, which was partially federally funded.

Another alleged scheme includes using campaign money to pay off his son’s student loans from 2007 to 2011 totaling about $23,000.

That is just some of the five schemes listed in the indictment.

“The public expects their elected officials to act with honesty and integrity. The public does not expect their elected officials to misuse campaign funds, misappropriate government funds, accept bribes or commit bank fraud. These type of crimes and criminal acts betray the public trust and undermine faith in government,” said U.S. Attorney Zane David Memeger.

Assistant Attorney General Leslie Caldwell says, “Public corruption takes a particularly heavy toll because it really undermines people’s basic belief that their elected leaders are committed to serving the public interest, not to lining their own pockets.”

The 85 page indictment includes charges such as racketeering, conspiracy, money laundering and bank fraud.

The congressman was recently with President Obama when he was in Philadelphia.

themanintheseersuckersuit wrote:Chaka con, Chaka con

jarnon wrote:Now our state Attorney General has been indicted too. That's right, the Attorney General is charged with a crime. She'll be tried here in Montgomery County.

It's been a lousy week for Pennsylvania. A former Senator died, hitchBOT was attacked, and two high officials were indicted.

jarnon wrote:Fattah's district is mostly in West Philadelphia, but it includes the suburb where I live.

Yesterday I got a political survey phone call. It asked who I supported for Congress in 2016: Dwight Evans, Seth Williams or Mayor Nutter. That didn't take long.

themanintheseersuckersuit wrote:Chaka con, Chaka con

Jimmy Fallon stole TMITSSS's joke (backed up by the Roots, who are also from Fattah's district:

The Tonight Show Monologue (start watching at 2:30)

jarnon wrote:A lot of updates: Fattah's son was convicted in a separate case. Fattah's wife resigned from her news anchor job. Fattah was defeated in the Democratic primary, which in our district is the real election. Finally, Fattah was convicted and has resigned from Congress, effective October 3.

As for the Attorney General, her law license was suspended, so she appointed a former Montgomery County D.A. as Solicitor General. Both candidates to replace her are from Montgomery County, which is where she'll be tried. But the only case that makes the news here is Bill Cosby's.