Chaka Fattah to Resign After Federal Corruption Conviction

U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah speaks outside of the federal courthouse in Philadelphia on August 18, 2015.

Days after his federal corruption conviction, U.S. Representative Chaka Fattah announced Wednesday that he plans to resign in three months.

Fattah was convicted Tuesday on 22 counts, including racketeering conspiracy, fraud, bribery and money laundering. He plans to leave office on Oct. 3rd, a day before his sentencing hearing.

He’s been called on to step down sooner. Republicans urged Fattah to resign before he submitted a letter. Some want him expelled. House Speaker Paul Ryan told him to step down “immediately.”

Here's my statement on Rep. Chaka Fattah: pic.twitter.com/4YjvIFpY0I

— Paul Ryan (@SpeakerRyan) June 22, 2016

Fattah is prohibited from voting on legislation or participating in committee proceedings. But his staff could continue to provide constituent services.

An 11th-term congressman, Fattah lost his bid for a 12th term to State Representative Dwight Evans in the Democratic primary in April, nine months after Fattah’s indictment.

Only five members of the House have ever been expelled, the Inquirer reports, and the most recent member was expelled in 2002 after being convicted on bribery and racketeering charges.

“I’m very sad about the verdict the jury rendered yesterday and because of that, my resignation is effective Oct. 3, 2016,” Fattah wrote in his resignation letter. “Despite my resignation I am working to clear my name of these charges and plan to mount an appeal.”

Fattah detailed his accomplishments in his letter of resignation.

Three of Fattah’s co-defendents, Robert Brand, Karen Nicholas and Herbert Vederman, were also found guilty of charges Tuesday. Fattah’s trial was one of the most-watched political corruption cases in recent Philadelphia history.

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