Celebrated Congressman Chaka Fattah lost the Democratic primary despite a noble record of public service and indictment for corruption charges. (Congressman Chaka Fattah should not be confused with his son, Chaka Fattah Jr. who was both indicted and sentenced to 5 years in prison.)
Fattah's defeat is highly surprising as criminal investigations are usually considered an asset for Democrats when running for public office. Even Hillary Clinton, the leading Democratic presidential candidate, is facing a criminal investigation. Nothing helped Chaka, including the Chaka Fattah Learning Lab.
In August, the U.S. Attorney's Office revealed that it had breached Fattah's inner circle: Fattah's longtime friend and former chief of staff, Gregory Naylor, pleaded guilty to participating in the secret repayment of an illegal $1 million campaign loan and to using campaign cash to pay down college debt owed by Chaka "Chip" Fattah Jr., the congressman's son.
The Educational Advancement Alliance was set up by Fattah more than 20 years ago. It has run a science-experiment bus known as the "Chaka Fattah Learning Lab" and has hosted the "Chaka Fattah Conference on Higher Education."
Sadly the Chaka Fattah Conference on Higher Education is no more. Or it will have to be held in prison,
Not even Nancy Pelosi's defense helped Fattah.
“Congressman Fattah has been a tireless and effective advocate for America’s hard-working families across more than 20 years of distinguished service in the House,” she said in a statement.
Now he'll have to serve in another capacity. One which Pelosi equally deserves to serve.