Charlie Rangel to House: 'I Am Not Going Away'
Patricia Murphy
Capitol Hill Bureau Chief
Posted:
08/10/10
Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) had a message for his fellow Democrats in the House who have not-so-quietly wished that he and his high-profile ethics charges would disappear before the November midterm elections.
"I don't want anyone to feel embarrassed or awkward. Heck, if I was you, I might want me to go away, too," he said. "I am not going away."
In an extraordinary speech on the House floor, Rangel held forth for more than half and hour to defend himself. He said there is "not one scintilla of evidence" to prove him guilty of the violations he is accused of and demanded that the ethics committee publicly try him so that he can answer the allegations. He warned his colleagues that if the ethics committee's process can endanger his career, it can endanger theirs, too.
"Don't let this happen to you," Rangel said to the members of the House. "Don't walk away because it's convenient that I disappear."
The ethics committee formally charged Rangel with 13 counts of violating the rules of the House, including that he used public resources for personal gain, omitted hundreds of thousands of dollars on his financial disclosure forms, violated the House franking statute, and engaged in conduct "reflecting discredibility on the House."
As he continued, Rangel revealed that he has paid more than $2 million in legal fees related to the charges against him. But beyond wanting to end the lawyers' bills, Rangel said he was speaking up on Tuesday because his September primary election will come and go before the ethics committee holds a hearing in his case. "I am not asking for leniency. I am asking for exposure of the facts," he said.
The Harlem lawmaker apologized to the House leadership for the ongoing scandal, but he defiantly warned that he will not admit to any wrongdoing.
"If I can't get my dignity back here, then fire your best shot at getting rid of me through expulsion," Rangel said. "I deserve and demand a right to be heard."
Video below:
"I don't want anyone to feel embarrassed or awkward. Heck, if I was you, I might want me to go away, too," he said. "I am not going away."
In an extraordinary speech on the House floor, Rangel held forth for more than half and hour to defend himself. He said there is "not one scintilla of evidence" to prove him guilty of the violations he is accused of and demanded that the ethics committee publicly try him so that he can answer the allegations. He warned his colleagues that if the ethics committee's process can endanger his career, it can endanger theirs, too.
"Don't let this happen to you," Rangel said to the members of the House. "Don't walk away because it's convenient that I disappear."
The ethics committee formally charged Rangel with 13 counts of violating the rules of the House, including that he used public resources for personal gain, omitted hundreds of thousands of dollars on his financial disclosure forms, violated the House franking statute, and engaged in conduct "reflecting discredibility on the House."
As he continued, Rangel revealed that he has paid more than $2 million in legal fees related to the charges against him. But beyond wanting to end the lawyers' bills, Rangel said he was speaking up on Tuesday because his September primary election will come and go before the ethics committee holds a hearing in his case. "I am not asking for leniency. I am asking for exposure of the facts," he said.
The Harlem lawmaker apologized to the House leadership for the ongoing scandal, but he defiantly warned that he will not admit to any wrongdoing.
"If I can't get my dignity back here, then fire your best shot at getting rid of me through expulsion," Rangel said. "I deserve and demand a right to be heard."
Video below: