Rep. Chaka Fattah (D-Pa.) is resigning effective immediately, he announced Thursday, after initially seeking to remain in Congress despite his conviction on corruption charges.
“In my previous letter I indicated a later resignation date in order to provide for an orderly transition of my office after 21 years in the House,” he wrote in a letter to Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.).
{mosads}”However, out of respect for the entire House Leadership, and so as not to cause a distraction from the House’s work for the people, I have changed my effective date.”
Fattah first submitted his resignation on Wednesday, but said he would remain in office — and collect a salary — until Oct. 1 to ensure “proper transmission of information and archiving of government documents after more than two decades in service.”
Ryan rejected that timeline and urged Fattah to step down immediately.
“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 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.”
Democrats, meanwhile, declined to publicly push Fattah out the door.
A Philadelphia jury on Tuesday convicted Fattah on 29 counts of bribery, racketeering, money laundering and fraud. Each conviction carries a possible sentence of 20 years in prison.
Fattah could appeal his conviction ahead of the sentencing on Oct. 4.
.@chakafattah to @SpeakerRyan: “Upon reflection, I hereby make official my resignation…effective immediately.” pic.twitter.com/wSsiXxvj5Q
— Chris Brennan (@ByChrisBrennan) June 23, 2016
Updated at 1:54 p.m.
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