Chaka Fattah Jr. Seeks To Represent Himself On Fraud, Tax Evasion Charges
By Tony Hanson
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- A hearing is scheduled in federal court in Philadelphia today in the case of defendant Chaka Fattah Jr., who is the son of US Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-Pa).
Fattah Jr., the defendant, also wants serve as lawyer, representing himself in court on charges that include frau and income tax evasion. Authorities allege that Fattah Jr. held himself out as owner and founder of a number of enterprises and used funds from business lines of credit for personal expenses including car payments, jewelry, utilities, retail purchases, and charitable donations.
Fattah Jr. has pleaded not guilty and has repeatedly claimed the prosecution is politically motivated. He insists it is the result of witness perjury and government misconduct in the case, and he renewed those claims, in detail, in a 305 page motion to dismiss the case filed earlier this week. That motion is expected to be addressed later.
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