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Rep. Fattah at court complex for racketeering case hearing

FILE - In this Jan. 9, 2014, file photo, Rep. Chaka Fattah, D-Pa., center, flanked by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, left, and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, right, speaks outside the White House in Washington after an event hosted by President Barack Obama about the Promise Zones Initiative. Fattah is set Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2015, for his first court appearance in a federal racketeering case that centers on his alleged use of grants and charitable donations to repay a $1 million campaign loan. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) FILE - In this Jan. 9, 2014, file photo, Rep. Chaka Fattah, D-Pa., center, flanked by Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti, left, and Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, right, speaks outside the White House in Washington after an event hosted by President Barack Obama about the Promise Zones Initiative. Fattah is set Tuesday, Aug. 18, 2015, for his first court appearance in a federal racketeering case that centers on his alleged use of grants and charitable donations to repay a $1 million campaign loan. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File)

By Associated Press August 18, 2015 1 min read

PHILADELPHIA (AP) – Pennsylvania Congressman Chaka Fattah (fa-TAH’) has arrived at a Philadelphia court complex for processing ahead of his first court appearance in a federal racketeering case.

Fattah’s lawyer says he’s being photographed and fingerprinted before facing a judge Tuesday afternoon.

The 11-term Democrat is vowing to fight the charges in a July 29 indictment, which include racketeering conspiracy, bribery and mail fraud.

Federal prosecutors say he paid off an illegal $1 million campaign loan with federal grants and charitable donations, and funneled campaign funds toward his son’s student loan.

Defense lawyer Kevin Mincey says the 58-year-old congressman will fight the charges at trial.

Fattah’s son also is under indictment in a separate but related case.