A spokeswoman for NBC10, Shawn Feddeman, said the station had no comment. 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. . Committed to one day maybe six days after the primary, the scheduled start date of his trial fighting those criminal charges. The latest property being unloaded in the Disgraced Pol Hit Parade went on the market last Tuesday. This was my first big success in Congress.. They have one daughter, Chandler Fattah. The four others convicted at trial will be sentenced later this week. Fattahs wife, Renee Chenault-Fattah, was implicated in the indictment against the congressman and nolonger sits at the anchor deskat NBC 10 where she worked for nearly 25years. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. The program promotes college attendance among the nations most impoverished students. Fattah was a former state lawmaker and Philadelphia official who was elected to Congress in 1994. Congress works off seniority. But behind the confidence, the political experience and the public relations in those 22 articlesare29 federal counts of corruption the reason why Fattah is in the thick of his most contested congressional race since he first won the seat in 1994. Fattah is only 64 years old, so his estimated lifetime pension is $1 million. Fattah was the recipient of numerous honors and awards including 10 honorary doctorates and the University of Pennsylvanias Fels Institute of Government Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award. Chenault-Fattah did let me know, though, that her marriage remains intact. In November 2013, Fattah was invited to attend as Keynote speaker at the Annual Cooperatives Conference, hosted by the NCBA. WASHINGTON -- Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Penn.) Fattah ran for re-election to his seat in 2016, but he was defeated by Dwight Evans in the Democratic primary. He says the work he wants to complete will take him another decade. We recommend you to check the complete list of Famous People born on 21 November. In 2002, he introduced the "Student Bill of Rights", H.R. Former state Rep. Dwight Evans, a fellow Democrat, now holds his seat. Social Activism Brings a Name Change. When you get someone whos invested 10 or 20 years, and theyre in there and bringing resources back, it doesnt really make sense to get rid of them.. After that, he was re-elected every two years with at least 86% of the vote. Among the charges: Mail fraud, bank fraud, conspiracy, bribery and racketeering, which is essentially using a legit organization for illegal purposes. 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. Your donation is fully tax-deductible. Note that clicking the link below will block access to this site for 24 hours. This dominancehas allowed him to spend little on campaigning, save for his 2007 bid for mayor. But she was less open to talking about her incarcerated husband, former U.S. Chaka "Chip" Fattah Jr., who never finished college, was convicted of using fraudulently obtained business loans to fund his jet-set lifestyle. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Im going to get these allegations behind me. 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. On June 21, 2016, Fattah was convicted of all charges, including racketeering conspiracy, bribery, bank fraud, mail fraud, money laundering, making false statements to a financial institution, and falsification of records. But this time around, she intends to be an advocate forcauses about which she's passionate. At 66 years old, Chaka Fattah height not available right now. "Almost every chronic illness hits us harder," she said, referring to African Americans. I got to ask former WCAU-TV anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah anything I wanted about Alzheimer's disease. "Asking for $18,000 which is a steal.". Congressman Chaka Fattah, a Philadelphia Democrat, speaks to the center for American Progress in 2010. Fattah represented the 2nd district in Pennsylvania, an overwhelmingly Democratic district, in the United States House of Representatives from 1995 to 2016. 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. "And when it's all said and done, I would like for the story to be, 'We miss you on TV. Fattah, 60, served 22 years in Congress . Fattahwasnt known as the type of person who would frequentlyhelp other politicos around town raise money. On July 12, 2019, a Philadelphia judge sentenced Fattah to 10 years in federal prison for public corruption. Congressman Chaka Fattah, November 20, 2014. Fattah and his wife used the $18,000 for a down payment on a Poconos vacation home. The Fattahs used the cash to help buy a $425,000 vacation house in the Poconos, the indictment says, but Chenault-Fattah kept the Porsche - and even renewed its registration and took it to an auto shop months after signing the title over to the lobbyist, Herbert Vederman. Committed to youth mentorship. For context, heres what geographic area the second district covers: [googledocs url=https://www.google.com/maps/d/embed?mid=zpCiRP_-CLNE.kuzLxa1XGo9o height=480 width=640]. She's done with that. Voting ina new congressman would be, in his words, a Chip Kelly trade something that, roughly speaking, changes the team but for the worse. Theyre kind of dealing with the position, Fattah said. Some are fromhis own office. On February 23, 2010, Fattah reintroduced the bill as the "Debt Free America Act," (H.R. In the middle of Kelly territory, this 1930 Cotswold-style home lets you live the life of grace. Fattahs third wife, Renee Chenault-Fattah, is a former Philadelphia television news broadcaster. Chaka Fattah was born Arthur Davenport on November 21, 1956 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to Arthur Davenport and Frances Brown. So, how much is Chaka Fattah worth at the age of 66 years old? "And that's something that a large segment of the population is not aware of. Their older daughter, Cameron, is a freshman at Johns Hopkins University. I wouldnt trade for a day some very well-meaning, well-intentioned person who might be at the pillar of the citys civic leadership for having working families stay with me.. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Fattah eventually came in fourth in the Democratic primary, close behind fellow Congressman Bob Brady but well behind former city councilman Michael Nutter, who went on to win the fall general election handily. 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. Two older structures with a link to that past also sit on these grounds: a carriage house thought to date to the 1800s and a one-room cottage with sleeping loft believed to be the oldest structure on the property. Renee Chenault-Fattah, wife of the indicted Rep. Chaka Fattah (D., Pa.), was not charged by federal authorities Wednesday - but the longtime NBC10 anchor did not escape the U.S. attorney's charging document. Once he lost that race and faced a large debt, Fattah and his inner circle illegally used federal and charitable funds to help repay the loan. Chaka Fattah 1956 . On June 21, 2016, a federal jury convicted Fattah, 59, of bribery, mail fraud, and 27 other charges including misappropriating campaign, charity, and taxpayer money. Advertisement He received an MA from The John Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University in 1984 and a Master of Governmental Administration (MGA) at the University of Pennsylvanias Fels Institute of State and Local Government in 1986. Committed to fair housing. "Our family misses and loves him. With other women, he is the father of another daughter, Frances ("Fran"), and one son, Chaka Fattah Jr., known as "Chip", who was convicted of felony bank and tax fraud in February 2016. He won a seat on the powerful Appropriations Committee, where he was able to steer millions of dollars in earmarks back home. His son, Chaka Fattah, Jr., is in federal prison after being convicted on charges he funneled government money to himself and defrauded others to pad a luxurious lifestyle. But he was charged in 2015, and then convicted on all counts the following year. In the 2016 election, Fattah was ousted in the Democratic primarythe real contest in his heavily Democratic, black-majority districtto state representative Dwight Evans. (The government thereafter announced its intention not to retry those counts.) So, how much is Chaka Fattah worth at the age of 66 years old? Fattah used the money to pay personal expenses, including his taxes. Chaka Fattahs income source is mostly from being a successful . 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. They have two school-age children. Both the main home and the carriage house have central air, and there are two garages on the property as well. Strategistswidely believe he has the most name recognitionin the field (absent the incumbent), as well as the most cashand a handful of top Philadelphia and state politicians standing behind him who are willing to throw in public support and money for ads. 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. In 2009, Fattah introduced a fourth bill to require having a study conducted, H.R. He challenged the FBI's focus on his wife . Im as innocent as you are under our system, Fattah said. ", When I asked how he's faring in federal prison, she said, "Chaka's doing great. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! The Pennsylvania Democrats son, Chaka Fattah Jr., is already in prison on bank and tax fraud charges. 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." In 2013, Fattah served as a vice chair on the House Gun and Violence Taskforce, a taskforce created under the direction of House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi. 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. Rep. Chaka Fattah was indicted Wednesday on racketeering charges tied to a host of public corruption schemes, the Department of Justice said. He was ordered to report to prison by Jan. 25, 2017. On December 12, 2016, Fattah was sentenced to 10 years in prison. Committed to fair housing. People got to be real careful about taking out a guy like that, State Sen. Vincent Hughes, a longtime Fattah supporter, Congress works off seniority. ( Photo via Facebook ), California residents do not sell my data request. Fattahmakes sure to note, too, that Sims raised $230,000 to challenge him for Congressthis year and didnt make it to filing day. or redistributed. 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. As a member of Pennsylvanias state House Fattah wrote and passed into law Pennsylvanias Homeowners Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (HEMAP). May 17, 2021 After being sentenced to 10 years in prison for a 23-count conviction for racketeering, fraud and other corruption charges, disgraced former Congressman Chaka Fattah was released from prison last July after about one year. Philadelphia news outlets have filed a motion to unseal court documents related to that dismissal. While it was one the harshest sentences ever handed out to a one-time member of Congress, federal prosecutors had asked for a longer term behind bars. One man standing outside a barbershopon Lancaster Avenue put it this way: We keep supporting these people, keep electing them, but they always end up doing dumb shit.Many are concerned Fattah is just another in a long line of political figures exposed of beinginvolved in shady dealings. On August 9, 2018, however, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit overturned Fattahs bribery convictions. In return, Fattah reportedly pushed for an ambassadorial position for Vederman or for appointment to the U.S. Trade Commission, including hand-delivering a letter to President Barack Obama on the issue. "People will say, 'We miss seeing you on TV and it's such a shame what happened to your husband and your family," Chenault-Fattah said. Chaka Fattah's net worth Since 2011, it has assisted 4.5million students and their families. More by Anna Orso. Outside of legislative work Fattah has created a few local education initiatives for Philadelphia and Pennsylvania families as a state legislator and in cooperation with state and municipal governments, including the CORE scholars program and the annual Grad Conference. The program offers Philadelphians the chance to exchange firearms for vouchers for groceries or other goods. And I don't want to do anything to jeopardize that," she told me. He resigned from Congress two days later. The latest property being unloaded in the Disgraced Pol Hit Parade went on the market last Tuesday. The tax credit assists any full-time college or university student or their families that claim the credit. It was recently announced that his wife who was not charged was no longer at NBC 10 after a six-month period on leave from the station, and Fattah Jr. is in a jail cell. Committed to funding neuroscience research. The Fattah campaign defended itself, claiming that it had followed less restrictive federal rules in spending the money, but eventually returned a portion of the excess contributions to the exploratory committee following a settlement with the city's Board of Ethics. His wife is Renee Chenault-Fattah (m. 2001). In the 2011-12 election period, he spent $162,000 while the average winner of a House seat spent 10 times that, some $1.6 million. A source speculated to The Philadelphia Inquirer that the decision could be tied to coronavirus concerns. He says hes just fine garnering the support of the full Democratic city committee and the endorsement of unions likethe Service Employees International Union and AFSCME district council 33. The couple, married in 2001, have one daughter, Chandler Fattah. Anchor Jim Rosenfield, speaking during Wednesday's 4 p.m. newscast, said Chenault-Fattah "is now on leave.". However, the law was riddled with loopholes, leaving convicted felons to collect taxpayer-funded pensions. After Fattah rattles off his accomplishments, he draws comparisons to others he says were unfairly targeted by law enforcement. In 1987, Fattah founded the Graduate Opportunity Initiative Conference, an annual three-day informational and scholarship conference which aims to significantly increase the enrollment of under-represented graduate students studying Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM fields). The Philadelphia Democrat, who was first elected to . He doesnt have any relationships, she told The Inquirer at the time. 2451. Fattah has also added a 1 percent tax credit designed to eliminate the impact of the measure on couples making less than $250,000 a year. But their real-life fairy tale turned into a nightmare in 2015 after the feds indicted and later convicted Chaka Fattah of racketeering, bribery, money laundering, and fraud. The longtime northwest Philadelphia state politician has friends in both Philadelphia and state politics, including Tasco, who has a reputation for being able to whip up a significant amount of votes, has built relationships and is not a divisive figure., Fattah, frankly, doesnt care about the politicians who have backed his most well-knownopponent. 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. After 30 years of working first as a Wall Street lawyer and later a TV broadcaster, she had to figure out what her third act would be. In this May 7, 2015 photo, Rep. Chaka Fattah, D-Pa., speaks during a My Brother's Keeper town hall at the School of the Future in Philadelphia. A lawyer before she became a journalist, Chenault-Fattah is said to earn a substantial salary from NBC10. Hes a member of the Democratic political establishment in both Philadelphia and Washington, and predicts that if things go his way, hes next in line to take over as the Democratic chairman of the Committee on Appropriations in the House. "My dad died from pancreatic cancer. Vederman wrote back to Fattah, "love to purchase" the car, according to the indictment, and later wired $18,000 to Fattah. Ironically, Fattah says that one day he hopes his legacy in Philadelphia is not about his success at the polls or the elections hes won or even about his prominence in the Washington Democratic establishment, but rather, he says, about what hes done for his constituents and for the country. In 1991, State Senator Fattah decided to run for Pennsylvania's 2nd congressional district in the special election that was held after Democratic U.S. Now I know its actually people in the barbershops and the beauty salons. Still, as. Fattah has long been attempting to have his sentence one of the longest ever imposed for a member of Congress reduced. So it was interesting to hear Chenault-Fattah spout facts and figures about Alzheimer's, which impacts about 5.7 million Americans. . "Whether it's diabetes, whether it's heart disease, strokes across the board.". A subsequent Philadelphia Daily News investigation revealed that nonprofits receiving federal funding and connected to Fattah paid out over $5.8 million to Fattah allies and alleged that many of these payments were ethically dubious. Fattah has introduced a few bills targeting the equity of resource allocation within and between school districts. 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. Committed to youth mentorship. Market data provided by Factset. Despite apparently selling the car to Vederman in January, the indictment says, Chenault-Fattah in May renewed the car's registration in her name, had the vehicle serviced in Conshohocken in June, and adjusted the car's insurance for the winter in November. He won the general election with 86% of the vote. The #WasteOfTheDay is presented by the forensic auditors at OpenTheBooks.com. Chaka Fattah with Obama aide Valerie Jarrett on Air Force One. Thats as he continues to collect his pension, as no member of Congress has ever been stripped of their pension. We have estimated Chenault-Fattah is focusing her attention on Alzheimer's disease and the disproportionate way it affects people of color. Two of Fattahs political consultants pleaded guilty in the case and testified against him. He also wrote the legislation for the American Opportunity Tax Credit (AOTC). Former Democratic Rep. Chaka Fattah (Pa.) was sentenced to 10 years in prison Monday by a federal judge in Philadelphia. Fattah, 60, served 22 years in Congress before losing a Democratic primary in April. In the 2011-12 election period, he spent $162,000 while the average winner of a House seat spent 10 times that, some $1.6 million. / CBS/AP. 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 wife, Philadelphia TV news anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah, took a leave after her husband's indictment and then quit in February. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The bill died without attracting any co-sponsor. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Evans has already been endorsed by both Gov. Fattah supporters have raised questions about whether he received a fair trial, noting that one of the jurors was dismissed from the case. First published on December 12, 2016 / 12:36 PM. He says hes spent more than $300,000 paying for his legal defense. He talks about how charges were dropped againsta Temple professor recently accused ofbeing a Chinese spy. 1703, which attracted no cosponsors. 2016 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. Local news should be free and accessible, which is why we ask readers like you to support our work rather than charging a fee to see it. His father said hes spoken to his son, who is looking forward to appealing his own federal case. Convicted Former Congressman Still Draws Estimated $1 Million Federal Lifetime Pension. 3941-45 W. Netherfield Rd., Philadelphia, Pa. 19129 [Connie Gillespie | ElfantWissahickon Realtors], Philadelphia Shops and Resources Thatll Help Outfit Your Dream Home Office Space, The Most Walkable Philadelphia Suburbs and Neighborhoods. In 2007 Fattah launched an unsuccessful bid for Mayor of Philadelphia. He says hes just fine garnering the support. He is a member of Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity. Andthe Department of Justice contends its investigators werent unfairly targeting the congressman. Fattah received an F rating from the National Rifle Association and an A+ rating from the Coalition on Gun Violence and the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence for his positions on gun control. said Fattah had rightly given up his ranking position. (That) has nothing to do with the fact that Ive been found on the wrong side of these questions by a jury.. 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. The legislation provides a 50% tax credit to donors who contribute to qualifying scholarship trusts that are recognized and registered with the Secretary of the Treasury. And Im going to leave it to others to figure out everybodys motives.. Thats an area where Evans whos successfully stumped for other candidates across the state has him beat. Credit NBC10. She is on leave from her anchor job. 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. Congressman William Gray decided to resign. Wheres he been?, Love Philly? Phillys hot podcast studio: How two longtime producers are growing the citys audio scene, Meet the 10 entrepreneurs vying set up shop inside Philly rec centers, Tax cuts, a new forensic lab, library service, hotspot help: Takeaways from Mayor Kenneys final city budget proposal, A real art project at Quinta Brunsons former school in West Philly mirrors the Abbott Elementary Mural Arts episode, Former Councilmember Bobby Henon sentenced to 3.5 years in prison for taking bribes, Proudly powered by Newspack by Automattic. If you know Chaka, he is the eternal optimist. Co-ops have a broad base and connection to community in the Philadelphia area. Fattah attended Overbrook High School in Philadelphia and graduated with his BA from the University of Pennsylvanias Wharton School of Business in 1978. And then Im going to continue my work in the Congress, he said. Chenault-Fattah, who is also a lawyer,. All the while he did it with his own little West Philadelphia political machine, with the support ofpeople like Hughes and Councilwoman Cindy Bass. The conference was designed to encourage minority students interest in STEM graduate and professional schools. 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. Politics Was " Fun ". Richardson Dilworth, a professor of politics and the director of Drexels Center for Public Policy (and, yes, grandson of the former mayor), observed that Fattah has great name recognition in his district, andsaid hes not convinced his indictment is going hurt him much at the polls. For these additional counts, Fattah was again sentenced to 10 years of incarceration on July 12, 2019. Though Fattah was reportedlyunder investigation by the Department of Justice for eight years, it took charges on racketeering and bribery for challengers to come forward. He brings up that former Republican presidential candidate Jeb Bush spent $136 million compared to Donald Trumps $11 million. The congressman has never won less than 85 percent of the vote in the general, and in 2000 he defeateda Libertarian by garnering an unheard-of 98 percent of the vote. He is a member of famous with the age 66 years old group. While you have done much good, you also engaged in grave and widespread criminal activity, Bartle said.