Posted on 11/18/2010 10:47:55 AM PST by Justaham
The House ethics committee's chief counsel recommended Thursday that veteran Rep. Charles Rangel be censured for financial and fundraising misconduct as lawmakers neared closure on an embarrassing 2 1/2-year-long scandal.
Chief counsel Blake Chisman called for the punishment despite the veteran New York congressman's plea, in a prepared statement in advance of the hearing, for "a drop of fairness and mercy."
If Chisam's recommendation is carried out, it would be the most serious punishment short of expulsion that could be meted out by the House. Chisam and Rangel argued their positions at a public hearing on sanctions, where the 80-year-old congressman acknowledged making mistakes in handling his finances and said he wasn't there to "retry this case."
He did say he wished the committee would weigh, in considering its vote on punishment, how the House had handled previous cases involving lawmakers who were enriched by activities they undertook that were judged to be in violation of the chamber's rules.
Rangel spoke calmly without notes as he faced the committee. He repeatedly denied he was corrupt or crooked, sparking a clash with Rep. Michael McCaul, R-Texas.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
“Mercy” he pleads...he’s not a crook....just special.
So it’ll be as expected ... a slap on the wrist.
Somebody please tell me what the consequences of censure is to Charlie.
Probably the best we can hope for, I doubt anyone seriously expects them to kick the old bastidge out...
Just expel him. I am sure his constituents would probably vote to send him back.
Bottom line, nothing. He loses nothing.
Did he give back those rent controlled apartments yet?????
Sorry Chollie. Forty years you have been living high off us, working citizens. Get off the stage and give up all your perqs. Consider it fairness and mercy you aren't in an orange jumpsuit in a federal prison.
He deserves expulsion from Congress, plus prosecution for his crimes.
Isn’t this the same guy who said Charlie was just a little misunderstood?
Tom Delay, Trent Lott Tom Foley ever single other republican was fired or encouraged to RESIGN Rangel needs to be removed from every committee he is on and receive a cut in pay to 10K.
Censure is BS. If the censure continues he should more restrictions on his activities and so forth. In the real world he would be terminated and forced to pay everything back.
He has to learn how to spell ‘censure’.
Oh no! Not a censure! I heard this on the local radio news break and the reader used his most dramatic voice for the word “censure” and then went on to say Rangel pleaded for “fairness and mercy”
For me the ONLY appropriate punishment is expulsion from the House.
Censure means absolutely nothing.
being censured is like when I forget to take out the trash and my wife gets pissed and I’m reminded that I forgot to take out the trash.....I’m in the doghouse for a few days, I get out, then she finds something else to get pissed about, and I hear all about it......
As Rush would say, "resume enhancement." As Timmy Geitner would say, "he did nothing I wouldn't do." As Slick Willie would...oh, just forget it. The list goes on and on.
Congress “policing their own” is like your state’s “Lawyer’s Board of Professional Responsibility “ policing their own....it ain’t happenin’.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Censure_in_the_United_States
Zoe Lofgren is pained, I’m sure, what a pussface. she seemed so unhappy, more about it being one of their own.. ‘bout damn time!
I agree.. EXpulsion is in order. he was the House head tax dude.
draining the swamp, HAA!
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