Congressman Fattah Convicted of Bribery, Resigns Immediately

Convicted in a racketeering case earlier this week, Rep. Chaka Fattah resigned from Congress effective immediately.

Today’s resignation came in a letter to Speaker of the House, Rep. Paul Ryan, who had called on Fattah to resign immediately. Fattah’s previously tendered resignation would not go into effect until October 3rd.

In his letter, Fattah writes his change came “upon reflection,” and that he did not want to be a distraction from the “House’s work for the people.”

In a statement released late Wednesday, Ryan said the veteran Pennsylvania lawmaker had betrayed the trust of the House and his constituents.

"Mr. Fattah has betrayed the trust of this institution and the people of Pennsylvania, and for that he should resign immediately from the House of Representatives," Ryan (R-Wis.) said in a statement. "We must hold members to the highest ethical standard, and I hope that Democratic leaders will join me in seeking his immediate resignation.”

Fattah was convicted Tuesday on an array of federal corruption charges, including racketeering and bribery associated with his efforts to repay an illegal $1 million campaign loan. Lawyers for Fattah argued the schemes were fabricated by two political constituents without Fattah’s knowledge.

Fattah, 59, had been charged with bribery, racketeering, money laundering, bank fraud, mail and wire fraud, and filing false statements as part of a years-long criminal scheme that even included Fattah lobbying President Barack Obama for an appointment for one of his co-conspirators. Fattah was found guilty on all charges, as were four co-defendants, according to Politico.

"Despite my resignation, I am working to clear my name of these charges and plan to mount an appeal," Fattah said.