Jurors In Chaka Fattah Trial Listen To Closing Arguments
By Steve Tawa
Closing arguments began on Monday at the federal racketeering conspiracy trial of Congressman Chaka Fattah. The prosecution took 3-hours, then Fattah's lead attorney, and a lawyer for one co-defendant followed up with theirs, but lawyers for three more defendants are due up on Tuesday.
Federal Prosecutor Johnathan Kravis told jurors Congressman Fattah "repeatedly abused his office for personal and political gain," in a "white collar crime spree."
Kravis alleges Fattah took bribes, committed fraud, and stole money, but he didn't do it alone. He said Fattah's one-time district chief-of-staff, Bonnie Bowser was responsible for falsifying campaign finance reports, while Karen Nicholas and Robert Brand used their non-profits "to execute and conceal schemes," and lobbyist Herbert Vederman was a "human ATM," paid bribes to Fattah.
Defense lawyer Samuel Silver told jurors "there's no credible evidence linking Fattah to a crime." He said prosecutors were "smearing" Fattah, and jurors should send prosecutors home empty-handed, because Fattah is innocent.
