Post by pavel on Jan 21, 2016 18:24:55 GMT -6
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah can no longer afford to pay the law firm representing him in a federal racketeering case and will seek new counsel for his upcoming trial.
A judge has scheduled a hearing for next week to decide if Fattah's lawyers can withdraw from the case after five months and what Fattah called $100,000 in payments.
An indictment accuses the 11-term Democrat of using federal grants and charitable donations to repay an illegal $1 million campaign loan; funneling campaign money toward his son's student loan; and accepting bribes, including cash payments toward a vacation home and tuition for an au pair.
Fattah said the law firm of Kevin Mincey and Thomas Fitzpatrick is not in a position to continue representation without payment.
"I have spent more than $300,000 to-date in litigating this matter, including over $100,000 to their law firm," Fattah said Thursday in a statement. "My focus is now on raising money for an unanticipated primary challenge."
Read more: bigstory.ap.org/article/9e26a9793b634221a3d08828a80d952f/rep-fattah-out-cash-criminal-case-lawyers-want-out
A judge has scheduled a hearing for next week to decide if Fattah's lawyers can withdraw from the case after five months and what Fattah called $100,000 in payments.
An indictment accuses the 11-term Democrat of using federal grants and charitable donations to repay an illegal $1 million campaign loan; funneling campaign money toward his son's student loan; and accepting bribes, including cash payments toward a vacation home and tuition for an au pair.
Fattah said the law firm of Kevin Mincey and Thomas Fitzpatrick is not in a position to continue representation without payment.
"I have spent more than $300,000 to-date in litigating this matter, including over $100,000 to their law firm," Fattah said Thursday in a statement. "My focus is now on raising money for an unanticipated primary challenge."
Read more: bigstory.ap.org/article/9e26a9793b634221a3d08828a80d952f/rep-fattah-out-cash-criminal-case-lawyers-want-out