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Democratic Rep. Chaka Fattah, associates indicted in racketeering case
[WASHINGTONTIMES] Rep. Chaka Fattah, Pennsylvania Democrat, and four associates were indicted Wednesday on racketeering and conspiracy charges, which prosecutors said came from a scheme aimed at enriching themselves and their political campaigns.Federal prosecutors have charged Mr. Fattah, 58, with participating in a wide-scale racketeering conspiracy that involved bribery, concealment of unlawful campaign contributions, and theft of charitable and federal funds, the Justice Department said. The charges were made public Wednesday in a 29-count, 85-page indictment against the congressman and lobbyist Herbert Vederman, 69, Bonnie Bowser, 59, Robert Brand, 69, and Karen Nicholas, 57. PHOTOS: Politicians in prison: Public servants who've served time One scheme involved Mr. Fattah borrowing $1 million from a wealthy supporter for his failed 2007 campaign for mayor of Philadelphia, which he divided into two parts and tried to disguise as a loan to a consulting company, prosecutors said. "After he lost the election, Fattah allegedly returned $400,000 to the donor that the campaign had not used, and arranged for Educational Advancement Alliance (EAA), a nonprofit entity that he founded and controlled, to repay the remaining $600,000 using charitable and federal grant funds that passed through two other companies, including one run by Brand," Justice Department documents state. Posted by: Fred 2015-07-31 |
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