Defense Presents Its Case In Chaka Fattah Trial
by Steve Tawa
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The defense is now putting on its case, including calling character witnesses on behalf of Congressman Chaka Fattah, now entering the fourth week of his racketeering conspiracy trial.
Defense lawyers for Congressman Fattah and four co-defendants called character witnesses who vouched for their integrity. The 29-count indictment charges them with bribery, conspiracy and fraud in five related alleged schemes.
His defense lawyer told jurors Fattah had nothing to do with any of them. His defense team has not indicated whether Fattah, an 11-term Congressman who is comfortable speaking in any scenario, will take the stand.
If he does, Fattah will face intensive cross-examination from a team of veteran federal prosecutors
Those Assistant US Attorneys spent three weeks calling witnesses, including two political consultants who pleaded guilty, and testified that Fattah allegedly arranged an illegal $1 million campaign loan.
Prosecutors contend he then repaid $600,000 of it using federal grant money and charitable donations under the congressman's control.
The defense claims those political operatives were behind the scheme. They say there was nothing from Fattah that memorialized the arrangement in documents, emails, or text messages.