An indicted Democratic lawmaker from Pennsylvania used President Obama’s voice in a campaign robocall without permission, the White House said Tuesday.
Rep. Chaka Fattah of Philadelphia, who faces trial next month on federal bribery and racketeering charges, placed the robocall to Democratic primary voters in his 2nd Congressional District.
In the call, philly.com reported, City Councilwoman Cindy Bass tells voters, “Listen to what President Obama has to say about Chaka Fattah.”
Voters then hear what appeared to be a tape of Mr. Obama speaking in September 2013 to the Congressional Black Caucus in Washington.
“Thank you to Chaka Fattah … for your leadership, especially on the issues of brain research that have the potential to change so many lives,” Mr. Obama said.
Presidential spokeswoman Jennifer Friedman told philly.com that the White House did not authorize the campaign’s use of the president’s voice.
“We have not endorsed a candidate in this race and did not approve of the president’s voice being used in this ad,” she said.
Mr. Fattah, an 11-term lawmaker, was being challenged in the primary by three rivals.
He lost the race to state Sen. Dwight Evans.
• Dave Boyer can be reached at dboyer@washingtontimes.com.
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