Confident Fattah is dismissive of federal case against him

The House Ethics Committee announced Monday that it had opened its own investigation into the allegations surrounding U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah.

But if the Philadelphia Democrat's recent comments on the government's criminal case against him are any indication, he has no plans to go down without a fight.

"I am innocent of any and all of these allegations," Fattah told reporters Monday outside a YMCA event in Havertown, his first public appearance in the Philadelphia area since federal prosecutors announced racketeering conspiracy charges against him last week.

"There are a lot of people who are excited about the fact that there are charges brought against me," he added. "I can tell you that I'm not distracted at all."

In a 29-count indictment unveiled Wednesday, prosecutors allege that the 11-term congressman, who represents parts of Philadelphia and Montgomery County, used federal grant money and charitable donations he controlled to pay off debts and line the pockets of his family and inner circle.

In a statement late Monday, the Ethics Committee said it voted last week to convene an investigative subcommittee to examine whether Fattah violated the conduct code that governs House members.

Such panels typically have subpoena power, but do their work in secret. Should the subcommittee find violations, it can recommend reprimands or censures to the full Ethics Committee.

The subcommittee will be led by Rep. Susan Brooks (R., Ind.), the committee's statement said.

The Ethics Committee is chaired by Charlie Dent of Allentown, and includes Patrick Meehan, a former U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Neither Republican, however, will serve on the subcommittee investigating Fattah.

Fattah pledged to cooperate with the committee's investigation. "I have nothing to hide, and I have never participated in any actions or activities to dishonor the House through my 20-plus years of service," he said in a statement Monday evening.

In discussing the criminal case against him Monday, Fattah continued to express the same confidence he has shown since the early days of the investigation.

He pledged to run for a 12th term next year, and rattled off a list of other congressmen who beat federal corruption charges - a litany that included former U.S. Reps. Joseph M. McDade (D., Pa.), Harold Ford Sr. (D., Tenn.), and Floyd Flake (D., N.Y.).

Still, some aspects of the government's investigation clearly had Fattah upset.

He challenged the FBI's focus on his wife, longtime NBC10 anchor Renee Chenault-Fattah, who, while not charged with a crime, was portrayed as playing a role in an alleged bribery scheme involving the fake sale of her 1989 Porsche convertible. He also questioned a separate, ongoing case against his son Chaka "Chip" Fattah Jr., who is facing bank and tax fraud charges.

"I think it's truly unfortunate that there have been efforts to attack my family," Fattah said. "Going after my family is completely inappropriate and unfortunate."

And as he has done before, Fattah brushed off allegations that he raided the coffers of education nonprofits, he created and instead touted the good work he said those charities performed.

"My work has been acclaimed by President Obama and President Clinton," he said. "My family's work to help young people has been acclaimed by President Reagan and President Carter. That we would be involved . . . in any type of nefarious activity, I think defies the record."

Fattah's first court appearance is scheduled for Aug. 18.

@jeremyrroebuck

This article has been corrected from an earlier version.