He pleaded not guilty earlier than U.S. Magistrate Timothy Rice.
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Fattah said following his first court appearance in Philadelphia that he plans to seek re-election next year for a 12th term, leaving the legal wranglings to his attorneys. He later volunteered to the judge, “I haven’t committed any crime”.
“I’m not guilty”, Fattah told Rice. Fattah can continue to talk with current employees who may be called to testify.
Fattah went on to list several former lawmakers accused of wrongdoing but later cleared or not charged, including former Rep. Joseph McDade (R-Pa.) Then he listed several things- violation of representative rights of private citizens, violation of grand jury secrecy law, attempted coercion to break federal law, and “questionable motives” of the lead investigator- that he claims have been wrongly done to him in the investigation.
Fattah, who has urged the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform to review prosecutors’ actions in his case, blasted those prosecutors yesterday for dragging his friends and family through the mud.
“It is no secret that for decades, appropriators in both the House and Senate have been the target of unconstitutional and illegal investigations”, Fattah wrote. He has stepped down from that position.
Other charges stem from his alleged use of campaign funds to pay off student loans for his son, while the bribery charges stem from Fattah’s efforts to promote an aide, Herbert Vederman, for an ambassadorship or seat on the U.S. Trade Commission, they said. Her release on bail was set at $50,000.
The indictment accuses Fattah of misusing money from charitable contributions, campaign donations and federal grant funds during his 2007 mayoral campaign, per the Philly.com report.
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Additionally, the court in an amended court filing states that Bowser must maintain her current employment, but have no contact with co-defendants and potential witnesses in the case “except for co-workers on business matters”.
