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Charlie Rangel Will Face House Trial on Ethics Violations

1 year ago

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Patricia Murphy

Capitol Hill Bureau Chief

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After a two-year investigation, the House Committee on Standards and Official Conduct announced Thursday that it will essentially put Democratic Rep. Charlie Rangel on trial for numerous ethics complaints against him. Rangel has been accused of failing to pay taxes, of using his House position for personal financial gain and of filing improper financial disclosure reports.

The move means that investigators believe the congressman violated House rules and will now work to prove their case to House members.

"At long last, sunshine has pierced through this cloud that has been over my head for more than two years," Rangel said in a statement Thursday.

In 2008, Rangel, 80, asked the committee to investigate him after several media reports raised questions about the congressman's tax filings on his house in the Dominican Republic and other possible instances of tax evasion. Until this year, Rangel was the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, the panel that writes tax law.

Earlier in 2010, he stepped down from his chairmanship under pressure from fellow Democrats. Rangel insisted at the time that his resignation was temporary, and that he would take his post back when he is cleared of the charges against him.

Instead of keeping a low profile Thursday afternoon, Rangel joined House Speaker Nancy Pelosi at a press conference about unemployment benefits as news swirled about the Ethics Committee's announcement. Pelosi began and ended the event swiftly, when the media descended immediately upon Rangel, who lashed out at some reporters' questions.

The next step in the process will begin on July 29, when ethics committee members will announce the charges against Rangel, which are still confidential.

A subcommittee will then hold a hearing that will feature staff attorneys making their case against Rangel based on their investigation. Rangel and his attorneys will present his case to the panel and both sides will be allowed to offer evidence and call witnesses.

If the subcommittee determines that Rangel did violate House rules, a sentencing hearing will decide his punishment, which could range from a fine to censure, reprimand or expulsion. Either the full House or the Ethics Committee would vote on any punishment.

The House last held a formal hearing process for former Rep. James Traficant (D-Oh.), who was eventually expelled from the chamber and sent to prison for racketeering.

Filed Under: House, Investigations, Taxes, The Capitolist

Tagged: Charlie Rangel, dailyguidance, ethics, Ethics Committee, house rules

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conservgirl8

Charlie Rangel should probably go to jail, but, he won't. Our government puts these dishonest people up in public and tries to convince us that they are doing the right and proper thing, then when they feel enough time has gone by, they quietly let it go hoping we haven't noticed. This will happen here too. I have lost all faith and trust in them.

July 23 2010 at 11:10 AM Report abuse Permalink +14 rate up rate down Reply

Joey

What about Holder denying white people a safe place? What about the czars, voting in laws before they are even read? Ethics violations, come on, is this a joke or what?

July 23 2010 at 10:09 AM Report abuse Permalink +13 rate up rate down Reply

JonesEngineering

The sentence and penalty on those who administer law should exceed that imposed on those who must live under that law. If guilty life in prison might be appropriate

July 23 2010 at 9:02 AM Report abuse Permalink +11 rate up rate down Reply

ellingt5

Honesty and integrity matter. Process matters. Backroom deals, intimidation, tax evasion, partisanship, mortgage deals, excessive spending, pork, waste and dishonesty will no longer be tolerated by the American people. Enough is enough. We hired you based on trust and belief that you represented your constituents not your cushy job. Both parties are under a microscope and need to get back to doing the peoples business!

July 22 2010 at 11:52 PM Report abuse Permalink +45 rate up rate down Reply

druid0621

Too little, way too late. Charlie has been of questionable ethics for years. This is no more than a lame attempt by the Dems to offset recent charges of racism. It won't work - we see through them - they'll be out of work come November.

July 22 2010 at 11:27 PM Report abuse Permalink +41 rate up rate down Reply

viking9343

Charley Rangle is the poster boy for Democrat arrogance in congress. Get rid of all of them (GOP/DEM) and start over. Working for the people is getting way too cushy.

July 22 2010 at 10:56 PM Report abuse Permalink +49 rate up rate down Reply

dlk7674

I thought the Democrats based the last election on ending the "culture of corruption" the Republicans represented? I guess its OK to lie and steal tax revenue from the government when you write the tax laws for everyone else(and you have a D after your name). While your at it add in the Treasury Secretary for forgetting to pay taxes on his hired help and Dodds sweetheart deal from Countrywide. I quess having a D after your name makes you ABOVE the law. Wasn't it a Democrat who also said "only the little people pay taxes"? I can't wait till November.

July 22 2010 at 10:27 PM Report abuse Permalink +52 rate up rate down Reply

landslowrance

All he faces is Censure, Reprimand, or Explosion. If it was Mr. or Mrs. John Q. Public, they would be going to jail. The life would be over as they knew it.

July 22 2010 at 10:00 PM Report abuse Permalink +41 rate up rate down Reply