Posted on 07/22/2010 8:18:41 PM PDT by Second Amendment First
A House investigative panel has found “substantial reason to believe” that Representative Charles B. Rangel violated a range of ethics rules, dealing a serious blow to Mr. Rangel, a Harlem Democrat, in the twilight of his political career.
The finding means that he must face a public trial before the House ethics committee, the first member of Congress to be forced to do so since 2002, when Representative James A. Traficant Jr. was expelled from Congress after a corruption conviction.
The investigative panel did not disclose any details about the nature of the violations.
But two Democrats with knowledge of the investigation said the committee found evidence to support accusations that Mr. Rangel, 80, wrongly accepted four rent-stabilized apartments in Manhattan and misused his office to preserve a tax loophole worth half a billion dollars for an oil executive who pledged a donation for an educational center being built in Mr. Rangel’s honor.
The committee also found evidence to support a charge that Mr. Rangel failed to report or pay taxes on rental income from his beachfront Dominican villa.
They are among the most serious of the assortment of charges against Mr. Rangel that the panel has been examining for nearly two years.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Still, it is not clear whether Mr. Rangel, a proud and combative figure, will want to face the public spectacle of a trial. Democratic leaders, eager to contain the damage from his troubles, may push him to step aside in the coming weeks. If Mr. Rangel resigns from the House, the proceedings against him would almost certainly end.
Gad - “the twilight of his career” - the old dude is 80. I’d say that’s well after midnight.
Buh bye, Chas.
The Rat House will slap Charlie on the wrist with a feather.
WHen is the primary held? Is there anyone running against him? The Rev?
CommieCrates are totally corrupt! I hope Rangel pulls out some rabbits in retaliation!
Hmmmmm, interesting timing with elections right around the corner. When it comes to the Democrats, I remain suspicious.
Sounds like the GOP could win this seat in the general if they found a decent candidate.
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