The Latest: Lawyer: Government trying to smear congressman

Defense lawyers for a Pennsylvania congressman on trial in Philadelphia accuse the Justice Department of smearing a long-time public servant through the racketeering case.

[...] he says the money a friend spent on his children's nanny, his wife's Porsche and their Poconos vacation home was not part of a bribery scheme.

The political consultants admit they helped carry out an illegal $1 million loan scheme during Fattah's 2007 mayoral campaign.

A federal prosecutor says U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah "found himself a bought and paid-for U.S. congressman" as he struggled to pay taxes and college tuition and buy a vacation home.

Federal prosecutors say a veteran congressman on trial in a racketeering case led a "white-collar crime spree" that stretched from Philadelphia to Washington.

The 11-term Philadelphia Democrat is accused of taking an illegal $1 million campaign loan to help pay for his failed 2007 mayoral bid.

The 11-term Philadelphia Democrat is accused of taking an illegal $1 million campaign loan from a friend to help pay for his failed mayoral bid.