UPDATE: Rep. Rangel walked out of the hearing, claiming that he was deprived of legal representation when the committee denied his request to postpone the trial. The trial continued without his presence. Check back for more updates.
Rep. Charles Rangel of New York passed his first test, when Harlem voters ignored charges of corruption swirling around him and, in November, re-elected him to another term in Congress.
Now Rangel is facing another test as his House ethics trial kicks off today. He faces charges that he ignored House rules about disclosing his assets and raising money for a public building built in his honor and failing to declare rental income to the IRS.
All of these charges are against a man who was House Ways and Means chairman and was responsible for writing the nation's tax laws. Rangel gave up his chairmanship last year in light of the allegations of 13 violations.
A group of eight House members, four Democrats and four Republicans, will judge whether there is clear evidence that rules were broken. If so, the Ethics Committee will meet to decide the punishment. During a speech on the House floor, before his re-election, Rangel admitted he made mistakes but denied intentionally breaking House rules.
The latest ethics charge Rangel faces is that he may have improperly used political action committee money to help pay for his defense. If true, the Ethics Committee should throw the book at Charlie with a huge fine and public censure.
Rangel has been in Congress since 1970 and should know the rules as well as anyone. With all the mess floating around him, if he broke another rule to pay for his defense, he is simply showing he doesn't care about following rules anymore.
But when he won his election in November, Rangel's constituents made their decision that right or wrong, rule-breaker or not, they wanted him to represent them.
04-Nov-10 - Aimee Michael caused a massive car accident in Atlanta, a chain reaction that caused the deaths of five people, including a newborn baby, a 6-year-old and a 9-year-old. She now faces 36 years in prison.
04-Nov-10 - Aimee Michael caused a massive car accident in Atlanta, a chain reaction that caused the deaths of five people, including a newborn baby, a 6-year-old and a 9-year-old. She now faces 36 years in prison.
27-Oct-10 - Christopher White, Abdul Rasuul, and Leroy Johnson allege that they were told they had to buy food when they asked to use the restroom at a Third Avenue McDonald's.
25-Oct-10 - While T.I. reported to jail on November 1, he doesn't have to face additional charges and possible jail time from the arrest in California.
Oh, my, Charlie. Just let go. Just resign. I'm African-American and even I know you are a crook. Give it up so the crackers won't have one of us to gripe about.
So quick to judge.I thought you had to be found guilty of a crime before that happen.You called this man an idiot.You need to put your head in an meat grinder and go away.It seems like your're tire of living.You is one .That want be missed.I promise
By: Tired of Poor ME attitude on 11/16/2010 8:46AM
Neutral
@lacam31, He admitted he did it, he paid back taxes he "forgot". He is head of the committee that MAKES the IRS laws and then said he did not know he had to pay. That makes him BOTH a Crook and an Idiot. I am not tire of living as you say, I am Tired of sleazy, criminal, lying politicians no matter what their party.
'Tough Love: New Orleans' Swamp Date
Michelle Obama Attends Beyonce Concert
Comments: (22)
Add a comment
By: The Truth on 11/15/2010 12:42PM
Phrase of the day
"Shuckin and Jivin"
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Mimi on 11/15/2010 7:00PM
WHATEVER CHARLES RANGLE MAY HAVE DONE, IS NOTHING COMPARED TO ALL OF THE CROOKED $HIT THE REPUBLICANS DO.
YOU TALK ABOUT UNETHICAL...LOOK IN THE DIRECTION OF THE REPUBLICANS.
Report This
By: White man on 11/15/2010 2:14PM
He used PAC money to pay for his defense. This 80 year old is going to jail.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: sherrill on 11/18/2010 12:22PM
Oh, my, Charlie. Just let go. Just resign. I'm African-American and even I know you are a crook. Give it up so the crackers won't have one of us to gripe about.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Tired of Poor ME attitude on 11/15/2010 3:24PM
Another crook bites the dust! He is going down. I won't miss this criminal at all. What an idiot
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: lacam31 on 11/16/2010 4:18AM
So quick to judge.I thought you had to be found guilty of a crime before that happen.You called this man an idiot.You need to put your head in an meat grinder and go away.It seems like your're tire of living.You is one .That want be missed.I promise
Report This
By: Tired of Poor ME attitude on 11/16/2010 8:46AM
@lacam31, He admitted he did it, he paid back taxes he "forgot". He is head of the committee that MAKES the IRS laws and then said he did not know he had to pay. That makes him BOTH a Crook and an Idiot. I am not tire of living as you say, I am Tired of sleazy, criminal, lying politicians no matter what their party.
Report This
By: Jewel on 11/16/2010 1:49PM
Rangel is not a criminal. It has been reported repeatedly that the charges are ethical, not criminal. Pay attention.
Report This
By: bdeye on 11/15/2010 4:28PM
Yawn... that was soooooooo original buttrice.
Reply to this Comment | Report This
By: Delia on 11/15/2010 9:18PM
One thing Obama is not a white boy wannabe. He is a proud true African-American who can trace his history back on both sides of the Atlantic.
Reply to this Comment | Report This