The 20 term veteran Congressman from Harlem, NY and former Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, was accused last week by the House ethics committee of 13 House rules violations involving alleged financial wrongdoing and harming the credibility of Congress.
“Credibility is what’s at stake here; the very credibility of the House itself before the American people,” said Rep. Mike McCaul, a ranking Republican involved in a trial-like hearing on the charges against Rangel, who is running for re-election this year.
According to the charges, Rangel allegedly failed to report more than $600,000 on financial disclosure reports and improperly solicited funds for the construction of a center bearing his name at the City College of New York. The committee also alleged that Rangel improperly used a rent-subsidized apartment as a campaign office for over a decade and failed to pay taxes on a home in the Dominican Republic. Originally, it was believed that Rangel was set to accept a plea bargain so as to avoid a possible House trial and embarrassment to his party and to his own reelection bid. But no such deal surfaced, setting up Rangel for a September airing of the charges — just in time for the midterm elections in November.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said there must be “accountability” and “transparency” in cases of ethical transgressions. “Holding a high ethical standard is a serious responsibility … and a top priority” for the House Democratic leadership. As far as what this could mean in terms of political fallout from cases such as Rangel’s, Pelosi added “Let the chips will fall where they may.”
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This guy just handed Republicans a early christmas present. They were looking for a Democrat scandal to use in the fall election and now they have their wish. Charlie Rangle is a good reason to have term limits.