Charlie Rangel Will Face House Trial on Ethics Violations
Patricia Murphy
Capitol Hill Bureau Chief
Posted:
07/22/10
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.
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.