Congressman should resign

Rep. Chaka Fattah on Wednesday relinquished his position as the ranking Democrat on the subcommittee responsible for funding, among other things, the Justice Department. The same department had just accused the longtime Philadelphia congressman and political mover of holding another leadership post - atop a criminal organization.

The allegation that he is the legislative equivalent of a capo didn't seem to impress Fattah, who has been under investigation long enough to repeatedly seek and win reelection regardless. While glibly allowing that the indictment is more significant than "Deflategate" - an airy scandal involving footballs - Fattah answered a disturbingly detailed 29-count indictment by reiterating a general denial and vowing to "try not to have it be a distraction."

In fact, the charges are so serious as to render Fattah's service a distraction. Even if he hasn't serially abused his office, as the charges suggest, he will be a busy defendant. As neither is compatible with his continued service, he should step down.

Following charges against Fattah's son and guilty pleas by two associates over the past year, the indictment characterizes Fattah and four others as operating a network of nonprofit and for-profit entities that misused public money and influence to advance their personal and political interests. They are charged under, among other laws, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) Act, often used against the mob and other criminal enterprises.

The allegations are even more troubling in light of Fattah's power over public funds as an Appropriations Committee member and his ostensible enthusiasm for education and science, causes alleged to have provided cover for the Fattah organization's schemes.

Former aides have already admitted using federal and charity funds to pay off an illegal $1 million loan allegedly made to Fattah's unsuccessful 2007 run for mayor. The loan was purportedly repaid using funds from a NASA grant meant to engage young Philadelphians in science and from the charitable arm of the student loan corporation Sallie Mae. Also to pay off campaign debt, Fattah is charged with seeking National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration money for a nonexistent nonprofit called "Blue Guardians," described vaguely as "an environmental education and coastal heritage preservation effort working in poor communities." Another NOAA grant was allegedly sought for a phantom Fattah-sponsored educational conference.

Meanwhile, even as team Fattah plotted to pay campaign debts with public funds and urged creditors to forgive others, the indictment charges, he used campaign money to cover personal expenses and his son's college debt. Fattah and his alleged coconspirators are accused of covering up such payments with falsified campaign records and, in one case, a fictitious sale of his wife's Porsche.

That transaction allegedly disguised a bribe from Herbert Vederman, a lobbyist and deputy mayor under Ed Rendell who was also indicted. Fattah is accused of lobbying the president himself, among others, to give Vederman an ambassadorship. (Vederman's lawyer invoked what might be called the Bob Menendez defense, insisting the pair were just good friends.)

Such grave allegations, along with the pleas that preceded them, are a blot on what seemed to be a distinguished political career, and the latest in a long line for Philadelphia Democrats. Fattah is entitled to be presumed innocent unless proven otherwise. But he is not entitled to his office.