Fattah vows to fight charges, but talk of his legacy begins

PHILADELPHIA (WPVI) -- Congressman Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.) is promising to fight the federal corruption charges pending against him and he's made no mention of stepping down.

While he's innocent until proven guilty, many people in our area are already starting to talk about his legacy.

Dilworth Plaza at Philadelphia's City Hall, now as source of pride to the city, is long gone and forgotten. Dilworth Park now sits on the same City Hall apron.

The park was long an eyesore that embarrassed the town when tourists would come through.

Civic leaders say Rep. Fattah's clout in Congress helped deliver critical funds to help finance completion of this project.

"We received a $15 million TIGER grant as part of a $55 million complete renovation of then Dilworth Plaza, now Dilworth Park. Chaka Fattah was directly involved in that project," said Mayor Michael Nutter.

Fattah is staying in Congress but was forced to surrender his post on the House Appropriations subcommittee.

Congressman Bob Brady says Fattah is going to suffer when it comes obtaining funds from Washington.

"We're losing a ranking member, a subcommittee chairman, and we're going to be losing a lot of clout, a lot of finances, a lot of money that could and should be coming to the city of Philadelphia," said Brady.

What's the outlook for the 11-term Fattah? Attorney Lloyd George Perry, who has been both a federal prosecutor and defense attorney for indicted politicians, has studied the charges against Fattah.

"If they can establish what they say in the indictment as to the sequence of events, different financial deals and transfer of funds, I would say the government is in a very strong position," Perry said.

Sources tell Action News that Fattah's first appearance in court for an arraignment won't even be scheduled until sometime next week.