Hey, I can dream, can't I?
Posted on 11/15/2010 9:51:11 PM PST by Second Amendment First
The investigation of Representative Charles Rangel for violation of Congressional fund-raising rules has been going on for two years. The hearing before the House ethics committee — which Mr. Rangel insisted would exonerate him — has been scheduled for weeks. Yet on Monday, the day the hearing began, Mr. Rangel demanded a delay, claiming he needed to raise money for a new lawyer. When the committee refused, he walked out the door and into a new embarrassment.
There is no reason why the New York Democrat should have been unprepared to mount a defense. He said his defense team, from the firm of Zuckerman Spaeder, dropped him a month ago when he warned he might not be able to find enough money in his campaign fund to pay them for the hearing. But as the committee chairwoman, Zoe Lofgren, pointed out, the committee has repeatedly advised Mr. Rangel since 2008 that he could set up a defense fund to raise the money, which he has not done.
Instead, Mr. Rangel chose to grandstand. In remarks drenched in self-pity, he cited his 50 years of public service, his military record, his love of country. In a bid to discredit the proceedings, and likely verdict, he actually suggested that the committee was trying to deny him a lawyer, as if its members had anything to do with his predicament.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
We think that the 13 ethics charges against the congressman — including the acceptance of four rent-stabilized apartments and the failure to pay taxes on a chunk of his income — are more serious than simple sloppiness. But if he had apologized to the House and accepted his knuckle-rap, he would have been spared the hearing. Now he has raised even more questions about his fitness to represent his district.
I’m glad that the media was so nice to leave Rangel out of the news before the elections...
Of course, the NY Times wants the lame-duck Democratic-controlled House to pass final judgement on Rangel, not the new GOP majority next year.
Hey, I can dream, can't I?
If the worst thing he will get is a reprimand, then why should he get a lawyer at all? He knows he is guilty so take the wrap and move along. Why waste the money on a defense? He will lose his committee chairmanship in January anyway, so what is the worst he can get? I think he played the best card he could.
''...Documents corroborated that Mr. Rangel's committee was instrumental in extending a lucrative tax break to Nabors Industries, an oil drilling company, while the congressman was asking its chief executive for a $1 million donation.''
Move along - nothing to see here!
I guess being berated for your criminal activities is more than Charlie can bear.
Does he still have his rent controlled apartments in NYC?
LOL
Actually he has for rent controlled apts.
Actually he has four rent controlled apts.
He apparently has not relinquished either the one he uses for his office not the three other ones he conjoined with his residence on an upper floor. It will be interesting how the ethics hearing will result in his having to disgorge his ill gotten gains.
This is a well orchestrated charade.
The slap on the wrist will be meted out before the republican congress takes over.
The people of NY have spoken, and they believe in this “Charlie” and always will.
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