Ed Rendell and Wilson Goode, Now Paying Chaka Fattah Jr.’s Legal Bills

Rep. Chaka Fattah’s 30-year-old son Chip has been under investigation by the F.B.I. since 2012, apparently for financial improprieties. (The feds have also shown interest in possible political corruption.) In order to help him pay the legal bills necessary, Ed Rendell and other political players are starting a legal defense fund that includes several other big-time political players. Also involved in the fund are former Mayor W. Wilson Goode and George Burrell Jr., a former councilman and top mayoral aide to John Street. Rendell said the initial plan was not to release any names of donors, or their donation amounts. After feeling pressure to do so, Burrell says they will make the list public.

Rendell says the Fattah family has already spent $250,000 of its own money on Chip’s legal bills, and the defense fund is aimed at raising another $100,000 to $150,000. A letter signed by Rendell and Goode sought donations from 200-300 people. “He’s a wonderful kid,” said Rendell, who will pledge $1,000. “I’m not doing it because he is Chaka Fattah’s son, though I have a good relationship with Chaka. I’m doing it because I have a good relationship with him.” [Inquirer]

This post has been updated for clarity.