Jury selection in the federal racketeering case against U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah is underway in Philadelphia, setting the stage for one of the most prominent trials of an area politician in a decade.
Opening arguments are scheduled to begin May 16, and picking a jury could take several days. Various motions by both Fattah's defense and federal prosecutors with the U.S. Attorney's Office in Philadelphia are also expected between now and the beginning of the trial in two weeks.
Fattah, 58, is charged with bribery, racketeering, money laundering, and other charges in an alleged scheme that dates back to a $1 million loan during his failed 2007 run for mayor.
Four others, including a wealthy longtime political supporter, are also charged.
The congressman, who hails from West Philadelphia and has represented the city-based 2nd Congressional District for 22 years, lost his re-election bid last Tuesday to state Rep. Dwight Evans.
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Fattah is most known for his role in establishing a scholarship program for Philadelphia students called CORE, which provided thousands of scholarships to college.
His son, Chaka Fattah Jr., was convicted in February for tax and bank fraud and sentenced to five years in prison. He was convicted on 22 of 23 federal charges that he filed false tax returns and stole from the Philadelphia School District.
