Rangel Says He Will Pay Back Taxes; GOP Wants Him Out of Chairmanship

Wash Po ^ | Wednesday, September 10, 2008 | Christopher Lee

[Red Steel]

As House GOP leaders called for his removal from the powerful chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.) announced yesterday that he will repay "several thousand dollars" in back federal, state and local taxes owed on unreported income from a Dominican Republic vacation property.

The Harlem Democrat will file amended federal, state and local tax returns to reflect $75,000 in income from the beachfront villa that he previously failed to list on tax and congressional financial disclosure forms, said his lawyer Lanny Davis.

At a news conference today, Rangel planned to release a letter he sent to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) explaining the Punta Cana resort deal and another asking the House ethics committee to add the matter to a burgeoning inquiry. The committee is already examining the congressman's rental of several New York apartments at below-market rates and his fundraising entreaties to corporations and foundations on behalf of an academic center that bears his name, his attorney said.

Pelosi yesterday also heard from nine House Republican leaders, who demanded that she remove Rangel from the chairmanship.

In their letter, the GOP leaders sought to tie Rangel's troubles to their larger political critique of the Democratic-controlled Congress as failing to take action against high gasoline prices and a slumping economy.

"Given Chairman Rangel's continuing ethical lapses, he cannot effectively carry out his duties as chairman," wrote the Republicans, led by House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio). "Thus, in order to remove one obstacle to this Democratic Congress actually addressing and solving working families' concerns, you, as the Speaker of the House, must insist that Rep. Rangel step down from his Ways and Means Committee chairmanship pending an investigation of his ethical lapses."

Davis, a former special counsel to President Bill Clinton

[dfwgator]

You.. can be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes! You can be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes! You say.. "Steve.. how can I be a millionaire.. and never pay taxes?" First.. get a million dollars. Now.. you say, "Steve.. what do I say to the tax man when he comes to my door and says, 'You.. have never paid taxes'?" Two simple words. Two simple words in the English language: "I forgot!" How many times do we let ourselves get into terrible situations because we don't say "I forgot"? Let's say you're on trial for armed robbery. You say to the judge, "I forgot armed robbery was illegal." Let's suppose he says back to you, "You have committed a foul crime. you have stolen hundreds and thousands of dollars from people at random, and you say, 'I forgot'?" Two simple words: Excuuuuuse me!!"

[samadams2000]

IRS...Please pick up the red courtesy phone

[Chode]

and the RATS, take another one in the.................................HA ha!!!

[BenLurkin]

Silly pubbies — rules and laws don’t apply to Rats!

[VOA]

Rangel Says He Will Pay Back Taxes

Rangel's real response: I'm sorry...that I got caught.

It's sad that this POS once served in the US Marine Corps.

[popdonnelly]

He’ll pay his back taxes? Gee, that’s awfully big of him. I thought taxes were only for the little people.

[glorgau]

Hmmm, this goes a bit beyond “the mere appearance of impropriety.”

[mabelkitty]

WHY HASN’T HE BEEN INDICTED?????

HE SHOULD BE THROWN OUT OF CONGRESS, LET ALONE GIVE UP HIS CHAIRMANSHIP!!!

Can’t wait to see some ads tying this crook to Obama.

[aShepard]

..............said his lawyer Lanny Davis...........

Lanny Davis????

Man, this asshole really gets around!

[Liz]

The villa loan was extended to Rangel in 1988. Interest was waived for Rangel. Can you say quid pro quo?

QUESTION Rangel eventually paid it off in 2003. How much of Rangel's loan payoff was hidden behind (A) Congressional earmarks? Or (B) from federal funds Rangel got for his "non-profit," then illegally converted for his own use?

The IRS has targeted tax-exempt non-profits as rife with fraud. There are zillions of ways n/p can siphon off tax-exempt money, and illegally convert it for personal and political uses. Donations from one tax-exempt non-profit to another non-profit are THE biggest scams.

RANGEL'S FEDERAL HEIST The NY Post reported Rangel arranged for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service to get $2 million via Capitol Hill allocations, plus another $700,000 from the Dept of Housing and Urban Development.

MUST BE BUYING MORE PROPERTY Rangel is now extorting the private sector - sending out letters (on his congressional letterhead) to corporations and tax-exempt foundations, asking for funds for "the inspirational aspects of my legacy".......he raised $12 million for the n/p.

[Liz]

Congressman Charlie Rangel (D-NY), Chairman of the powerful Tax
Setting House Ways and Means Committee Hard At Work At His Punta Canna Villa (that he rents out without reporting the income).

NOTE: Courtesy of FReeper retSignman.
Straw is battery-powered--so that fagged-out Charlie doesn’t have to suck-up to get bagged.

[Texas Songwriter]

I evaded taxes for 10 years, but now that I have been caught, I guess I will pay the taxes. And the IRS is to remain mute????????????Penalties, interest??????????????It it seems hard he could claim ignorance, since he is the prick who wrote them all for us.

KINGS X Time Out. Do over!

[Cheburashka]

Hmm, yesterday we were being assured that depreciation on the unit would more than cover the rental income, therefore no tax would be due. How much will the extra income be tomorrow?

Don't forget to include the penalties and interest, Chuckie.

[Ann Archy]

A Republican would be in PRISON for TAX EVASION!! Democrats do NOT play by the rules they WRITE!

[Loyal Buckeye]

This whole Rangel thing, coupled with the Chris Dodd and the other Dem (name escapes me), fits right in to the McCain/Palin reform/end corruption platform.

[Chode]

tooooooooo funny...