Chaka Fattah Jr. takes on the feds today

THERE'S AN old adage in the legal profession that's often credited to Abraham Lincoln: "He who represents himself has a fool for a client."

You know who else said it?

The guy handling security yesterday outside courtroom 16A, where Chaka Fattah Jr.'s federal bank-fraud and tax-evasion trial got underway with jury selection.

Fattah, 33, son of U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah - who is also under federal indictment in a separate case - is taking the risky gamble of representing himself at trial.

He doesn't have a law degree. Or a college degree.

No matter: The self-described socialite and "lifestyle mogul"- Fattah once ran a photo firm called "FattahGraphy" and had planned an education company called "Dreamchasers" - sounded almost cocky yesterday afternoon after he helped select eight men and four women for the jury.

"Feel good, feel good," he said.

Opening arguments are scheduled to begin this morning.

"What's going to happen is that their whole argument is going to fall apart," said Fattah, who called the government's case "ridiculous."

Prosecutors allege in a 23-count indictment unsealed in August 2014 that Fattah used business loans for personal expenses, made false statements to the IRS and failed to file income-tax returns. He also is accused of helping to scam the School District of Philadelphia out of hundreds of thousands of dollars.

Fattah said after yesterday's court session that investigators selectively chose whom to interview. He plans to make their "lack of investigation" a pillar of his defense.

"You're going to see gaping holes in the government's argument," Fattah said.

Selecting 12 jurors and four alternates took all day, as Fattah and the prosecution team, led by Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Gray, picked from a pool of nearly 100 people.

Many claimed they had a "hardship" after hearing that the trial could last three weeks. Some who were eventually selected to sit on the jury let out a sigh of desperation upon hearing their number called, as if they had just been convicted.

U.S. District Judge Harvey Bartle III advised the jury that Fattah would be exercising his constitutional right to represent himself at trial. Fattah will be assisted by federal defender Nina Spizer.

In December, Bartle told Fattah: "I strongly urge you not to try to represent yourself."

When Fattah insisted that he wanted to speak directly to the jury, Bartle gave up.

"You're on your own," Bartle said.

On Twitter: @wbender99