A House investigative committee on Thursday charged New York Rep. Charles Rangel with multiple ethics violations, dealing a serious blow to the former Ways and Means chairman and complicating Democrats’ election-year outlook.
The House ethics committee won’t reveal the specific charges until next Thursday in a public meeting. However, sources familiar with the allegations, who were not authorized to discuss them publicly, said the charges against the 40-year Democrat were related to:
_Rangel’s use of official stationery to raise money for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at City College of New York.
_His use of four rent-subsidized apartment units in New York City. The city’s rent stabilization program is supposed to apply to one’s primary residence. One had been used as a campaign office, raising a separate question of whether the rent break was an improper gift.
_Rangel’s failure to report income as required on his annual financial disclosure forms. The committee had investigated his failure to report income from the lawmaker’s rental unit at the Punta Cana Yacht Club in the Dominican Republic. Rangel also belatedly disclosed hundreds of thousands of dollars in investment assets.
The charges by a four-member panel of the House ethics committee sends the case to a House trial. A separate panel of four Republicans and four Democrats will decide whether the violations can be proved by clear and convincing evidence.
1 down, 534 to go.
Interesting that the committee didn’t name the charges. Is this just an innoculation to lessen the effect when the charges finally come out? Appears the cover up still in progress?
Good. I’m a Dem but I can’t stand anyone who does crap like this. It isn’t that hard to be a clean Congressman, so stop making all Dems look bad by being corrupt!
This is just the House doing this. if the House can get this guy why can’t the DOJ? Is it because Rangle is black? Is it because Rangle is a politician? Or both?
Rangel’s discussing this like he’s above the law. He probably is, that’s why our votes really count. Because without our votes this nation will sink into anarchy.
My takeaway; Mr. Rangel says to Luke Russert after being asked a semi-hardball question, “This doesn’t sound like NBC”. Even Mr. Rangel KNOWS how biased NBC really is.
Someone please tell that to their morning entertainment guy, Matt Lauer.
Rangel’s discussing this like he’s above the law. He probably is, that’s why our votes really count. Because without our votes this nation will sink into anarchy.
Votes are what put this guy in the position of power that he’s in.
After this election democrats will have something between 55 and 60 seats in the senate. There are only five seats that aren’t 100 percent safe for either party at this point, most of which lean republican.
Facebook Apps
This is just the House doing this. if the House can get this guy why can’t the DOJ? Is it because Rangle is black? Is it because Rangle is a politician? Or both?
Well, our insight into the Black Panther case gives us some understanding of the DOJ’s policy on your second question.
Nice to see the ethics committee has some relevance again after failing to do anything more than admonish Tom Delay for his shady influence-peddling.
Nothing will happen to him. Trust me. Just like nothing happens to Doyle.
not faily