(AP) — A federal appeals court says Pennsylvania U.S. Rep. Chaka Fattah (SHAW’-kah fa-TAH’) can’t keep investigators out of his personal email.

The Philadelphia Inquirer reports (http://bit.ly/1Vzy2Ha ) Wednesday’s ruling clears the way for prosecutors to sift through seven years of the Philadelphia Democrat’s private email as they prepare for his racketeering trial.

Fattah has fought for months to block an FBI search warrant seeking access to his correspondence. He claimed investigators couldn’t get into his email, citing a congressional privilege typically used to protect lawmakers from interference by the executive branch.

His office and his attorney declined to comment on the ruling.

Fattah is accused of misusing federal grants and charitable donations. He has denied any wrongdoing. He was charged in July with racketeering conspiracy, fraud, money laundering and other crimes.