Fattah trial delayed by two weeks
A federal judge Wednesday postponed Rep. Chaka Fattah's racketeering conspiracy trial by two weeks to give his codefendants more time to review thousands of the congressman's emails that are still being reviewed and turned over to them by the government.
A federal judge Wednesday postponed Rep. Chaka Fattah's racketeering conspiracy trial by two weeks to give his codefendants more time to review thousands of the congressman's emails that are still being reviewed and turned over to them by the government.
U.S. District Judge Harvey Bartle III set May 16 as the new date for opening arguments. Jury selection will still begin on the original May 2 date.
Prosecutors won a court battle granting them access to Fattah's personal email account last year after an appellate court ruled that their subpoena did not necessarily violate a congressional privilege protecting legislators from interference by officers of the executive branch, including the Justice Department.
Fattah stands accused of taking bribes and misusing hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign cash, charitable funds, and federal grant money under his control to pay off debts and line the pockets of members of his inner circle.
Fattah, an 11-term Philadelphia Democrat who faces an April 26 primary, has denied the allegations.
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