Ethics panel charges Rangel with conduct discrediting the House

[Skip8282]

I'm glad they're going after him, but give me a break on the "discrediting the House" crap.  As though that institution could be discredited any further.   





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Washington (CNN) -- The House ethics committee on Thursday accused veteran Rep. Charles Rangel of 13 violations of House rules involving alleged financial wrongdoing and harming the credibility of Congress.

The charges accused the 20-term Democrat from New York of using his influence to solicit donations for a college policy center in his name from corporate heads and others with business before the powerful House Ways and Means Committee that Rangel chaired until forced to give up the leadership position earlier this year.

Other charges involve alleged income tax and financial disclosure violations, as well as improper use of government mail service and letterhead.

"Credibility is what's at stake here; the very credibility of the House itself before the American people," said Rep. Mike McCaul, the ranking Republican on a subcommittee that will hold a trial-like hearing on the charges against Rangel.

McCaul spoke at the subcommittee's first meeting, described as an organizational session. Rangel was not required to attend and did not show up to hear the first public disclosure of the formal charges against him.

Asked later about his response to the charges, Rangel sounded contrite in saying he may have been "overzealous" in serving the public but took some comfort that the allegations involved no "corruption" or "self-dealing."

"I can't make an excuse for serious violations, but I can have an explanation of my intent," he said. "And to large degree that's what my life has been all about--intent."



Video: Rep. Rangel speaks to press

Video: Rep. Rangel: On 'the list' RELATED TOPICS
Charles Rangel
U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means
Rangel said it was "a very, very rough period for me and my family, but we all, including my community, will get by this."

In the days leading up to the hearing, Rangel had said he welcomed the completion of a two-year investigation by the ethics committee so that he could finally respond to specific accusations against him.

According to documents released by the committee, Rangel first learned of the charges being pursued by an investigating subcommittee on June 17. He filed a motion to have the charges dismissed, which the investigating panel denied, the documents showed.

In a document dated Wednesday, Rangel's lawyers challenged the scope of the charges against him, saying Rangel "did not abuse his official position or enrich himself financially."

"He did not target for solicitation foundations, corporations or individuals with business before the Ways & Means Committee, nor did he offer or provide preferential treatment or favors to potential contributors," the document said. "He received no prohibited benefit, direct or indirect, from his work on behalf of this program that violates the ethics rules."

However, the document said Rangel "recognizes that the public would have been better served if he had consulted the Standards Committee staff in advance" of soliciting funding for the college center.

Rangel said this week that his lawyers were in talks with committee lawyers on a possible deal to settle the case without a hearing. When Thursday's hearing was delayed for 55 minutes with no explanation, rumors of an imminent agreement quickly spread.

iReport: Sound off on this story

However, the panel gathered and held the hearing, and it remained unclear whether a settlement avoiding the spectacle of a trial hearing was possible.

According to the charges, Rangel allegedly failed to report more than $600,000 on financial disclosure reports and improperly used a rent-subsidized apartment as a campaign office for over a decade and failed to pay taxes on a home in the Dominican Republic.

Rangel "argues that errors on his personal taxes do not implicate discharge of his official responsibilities," committee investigators concluded in response to Rangel's request to have the charges dismissed. He "appears to be operating under the erroneous belief that the only conduct subject to discipline is conduct directly related to the discharge of his official responsibilities."

An investigative subcommittee report on Rangel's dealings, available on the committee's website, detailed a lengthy series of meetings the congressman held with business leaders to raise funds for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Policy at the City College of New York. His repeated attempts to woo potential donors violated the House's solicitation and gift ban, the report said.

Among other things, the report stated that Rangel met with a lobbyist for insurance giant AIG in April 2008 with the objective to "close" a $10 million "gift for the Rangel Center."

At the meeting, "AIG raised concerns about a potential donation, including the potential headline risk," the report stated. But Rangel pushed ahead, asking "AIG, at least twice, what was necessary to get this done."

During the period of time that Rangel was seeking donations from AIG, according to committee investigators, the company was lobbying the House on several tax and trade issues -- matters over which Rangel exercised considerable influence.

It also noted that, in March 2007, he used congressional letterhead to send notes to business leaders such as Donald Trump, in which he requested meetings to discuss the Rangel Center.

The congressman's "acceptance of favors and benefits from donors to the Rangel Center ... might be construed by reasonable persons as influencing the performance of his governmental duties," the report concluded, adding that the "accumulation of (Rangel's) actions reflected poorly on the institution of the House and, thereby, brought discredit to the House."

In the July 28 response, Rangel's lawyers argued that some of the cited infractions were unintended in his effort to help the college.

"If he mistakenly used the wrong letterhead or other modest resources in this worthy cause, the error was made in good faith," the document said.

"It is undisputed that every single charitable contribution in this case went to CCNY, a public educational institution, and not to the congressman," it said, later adding that"the uncontroverted evidence is that Congressman Rangel never suggested that any donor to the Rangel Center would receive favorable consideration in legislative matters and never gave preferential treatment to any contributor."

McCaul said the allegations against Rangel, if proven, would violate "the most fundamental code of conduct" for House members.

Rep. Gene Green of Texas, a Democrat who led a two-year ethics subcommittee investigation of Rangel, said it was a difficult job.

"The task is even more difficult when the subject has befriended and mentored so many new members, and I'm one of them," Green said.

Another ethics committee member, Republican Rep. Jo Bonner of Alabama, said "this is truly a sad day where no one, regardless of their partisan stripes, should rejoice."

Rangel temporarily stepped down as Ways and Means Committee chairman earlier this year following the announcement of an ethics investigation of several allegations, including failure to pay taxes on the Dominican Republic residence.

The House ethics committee previously admonished Rangel for violating rules on receiving gifts. Specifically, the committee found that Rangel violated House gift rules by accepting reimbursement payments for travel to conferences in the Caribbean in 2007 and 2008.

Rangel, whose autobiography that discusses his Korean War experience is titled "And I Haven't Had a Bad Day Since," told reporters earlier Thursday that "I have to reassess that (statement)" in light of the pending hearing.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday -- in response to a question about Rangel -- that there must be "accountability" and "transparency" in cases of ethical transgressions.

"Holding a high ethical standard is a serious responsibility ... and a top priority" for the House Democratic leadership, she said. In terms of political fallout from cases such as Rangel's, "the chips will fall where they may," she said.

Congressional Democrats have reportedly expressed concern that an extended public airing of the charges against Rangel could damage the party's prospects in the November midterm elections.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/07/29/rangel.ethics/index.html

[LurkerNoMore]

When I see his name, the first image that pops in my head is that photo of him where the reporter was asking him about any wrongdoing and he was standing there with his eyes like a deer in headlights and his lips puckered up like he had just sucked a lemon.

[Bindare_Dundat]

The guy is a piece of garbage.

[Soul Crusher]

I personally know the author of this book, and have for over 30 years and am good friends with two of his sons. 

Rangle is a disgrace and helped cover up a murder.

________________________ _____________________

The True Story of New York's Most Notorious Cop-Killer and the Cop Who Risked Everything to Catch Him.


In 1972, New York City was plagued with protests, riots, and general unrest. It was during this defining year that one of the Police Department's most scandalous cases occurred: the murder of Police Officer Phillip Cardillo. On Friday, April 14, 1972, the police were summoned to Mosque Number 7 in Harlem, led at the time by the Nation of Islam's Louis Farrakhan, for a ten-thirteen: officer in need of help. The turn of events after this officer distress call has become perhaps the most legendary story in NYPD history. Police entered the Mosque and a conflict occurred, leaving Office Cardillo dead, and the city on the brink of a full-scale riot. Sensing a potential crisis and conflict with the Nation of Islam and the Black Liberation Army, New York City Mayor John Lindsay, Commissioner Benjamin Ward, and Congressman Charles Rangel acquiesced to the city's black leaders and ordered the police out of the Mosque.

Subsequently, the details of Officer Cardillo's murder and the events of what happened at the Mosque were covered up and an investigation was never truly launched until NYPD detective Randy Jurgensen began his own investigation. For four years, he would not rest, taking on the Mayor, his superiors in the NYPD, the Nation of Islam, and seemingly at times, the entire city of New York, before he could affect an arrest. His investigation revealed the tragic and shameful story of the political scandal and cover-up that rocked the NYPD and the Nation of Islam.

Circle of Six is the harrowing true crime expose that lifts the curtain to reveal the raw story behind one of the most debated cases in the history of the New York City Police Department. Officer Cardillo's murder is still an officially unsolved crime to this day. Written by Randy Jurgensen with Robert Cea, also a former NYPD detective, it details Jurgensen's determined effort to bring Officer Cardillo's murderer to justice. Despite the mayhem on the streets and the Machiavellian corridors of Mayor Lindsay's City Hall, Detective Jurgensen captured Cardillo's killer, Lewis 17X Dupree. He broke the case with an unlikely accomplice, Foster 2X Thomas, a minister for the Nation of Islam who became Randy's witness and would eventually help put Dupree behind bars.

Randy Jurgensen's co-author is Rob Cea (No Lights, No Sirens), also a former NYPD detective. As a new recruit Cea learned of Jurgensen's heroism, and the tales of this case are told to this day to each and every recruit at the Policy Academy. Randy Jurgensen is a legend in the New York City Police Department.




Randy Jurgensen is rendered unconscious from a brick thrown during the riot that broke out after Cardillo was shot. The picture first appeared on the front page of the New York Daily News on April 14, 1972 and also appears in the World Almanac of 1973 under 'Race Relations'. This award-winning photo stands as a testament to what happened that fateful day in 1972.

[Soul Crusher]

NYPD Confronted Radical Islam In 1972
Posted by: Curt @ 7:06 pm in Law Enforcement, War On Terror  | 296 views

________________________ ________________________ ________________________ __


Now this is a story that needs to be posted on. It’s one that I, regrettably, had no idea about:

Police Commissioner Ray Kelly has launched a probe into what is widely considered one of the most embarrassing episodes in NYPD history: the coverup of a cop killing in Louis Farrakhan’s Harlem mosque April 14, 1972.

Thirty-four years after he landed on the scene of the notorious Harlem mosque murder as a young sergeant, top cop Kelly told The Post he has assigned members of the Major Case Squad to reopen the investigation into the slaying of Police Officer Philip Cardillo inside a Nation of Islam mosque.

“There is a feeling in certain quarters that there are a lot of unanswered questions and if we can answer those questions, we have an obligation to do that,” Kelly said.

Cardillo died five days after he was shot in the mosque alongside three other officers who were badly beaten after the four of them responded to a phony 911 call saying an officer was in trouble.
Fearing a racial riot in an age when every city outside New York had been torn up by black mobs, the investigation was hampered by politics.

A book was recently written about it called “Circle Of Six”. Here is the description:

In 1972, New York City was plagued with protests, riots, and general unrest. It was during this defining year that one of the Police Department’s most scandalous cases occurred: the murder of Police Officer Phillip Cardillo. On Friday, April 14, 1972, the police were summoned to Mosque Number 7 in Harlem, led at the time by the Nation of Islam’s Louis Farrakhan, for a ten-thirteen: officer in need of help. The turn of events after this officer distress call has become perhaps the most legendary story in NYPD history. Police entered the Mosque and a conflict occurred, leaving Office Cardillo dead, and the city on the brink of a full-scale riot. Sensing a potential crisis and conflict with the Nation of Islam and the Black Liberation Army, New York City Mayor John Lindsey, Commissioner Benjamin Ward, and Congressman Charles Rangel acquiesced to the city’s black leaders and ordered the police out of the Mosque.

Subsequently, the details of Officer Cardillo’s murder and the events of what happened at the Mosque were covered up and an investigation was never truly launched until NYPD detective Randy Jurgensen began his own investigation. For four years, he would not rest, taking on the Mayor, his superiors in the NYPD, the Nation of Islam, and seemingly at times, the entire city of New York, before he could affect an arrest. His investigation revealed the tragic and shameful story of the political scandal and cover-up that rocked the NYPD and the Nation of Islam.

Ahhhh, that peaceful loving religion called Islam…what would we do without it.

A little more detail here:

Patrolmen Phil Cardillo and Vito Navarra were riding in 28 sector George. They were the first RMP to respond to a ‘10-13 on the second floor’ at 102 West 116 Street.

After arriving and entering the building, which was a mosque, they questioned about 10 muslims at the front desk about the call. Suddenly, the muslims shouted, “Allah Akhbar” more muslims came from rooms, then the officers were beaten and stomped by numerous black muslims.

A minute or two later Patrolmen Vic Padilla and Ivan Negron of the 25 pct arrived and when also badly beaten and knocked to the ground. Navarra was able to crawl to the front door which was then slammed shut by the muslims. He told the responding cops, that Cardillo was still inside. Thru a small window in the front door Cops could see Cardillo on the floor being kicked by the surrounding mob. Padilla was down and being stomped and his gun was taken. Ptl. Negron was being beaten and he was fighting off numerous hands that were attempting to rip the gun from his holster.

One of the muslims, six foot four and 260 pounds, Louis 17X Dupree grabbed Cardillos gun, ripped it from the holster and fired a round into Cardillo. The cops at the front door smashed the glass and afraid of hitting the fallen cops, fired five rounds over the heads of the muslims. Padilla, seeing Louis Dupree running with the gun, fired three rounds. More 10-13’s are called.

The cops broke in the front door. The seventeen muslims ran to the basement. Cops flooded through the door and chased the fleeing muslims down the stairs. The cops had them against the wall and began searching for the missing guns. Cardillo is removed to St. Lukes hospital. At the same time outside the mosque, a large crowd of about a thousand locals, begin to riot.

Cars were overturned, bricks are coming of the roofs, and cops and media people are being assaulted. While this is going on, Deputy Chief Inspector William Knapp arrives, and went into the basement and spoke with Inspector John Haugh the 28 pct CO. Insp. Haugh had responded to the 10-13. He told the cops to guard the prisoners.

Knapp called Commissioner Pat Murphy and advised him of the turmoil inside and outside the mosque. While Knapp is talking on the phone, he heard shouting. He turned and saw Louis Farrakhan and Charlie Rangel leading a large group of muslims down the basement stairs. Farrakhan is shouting that all the cops must leave the temple. Knapp tells Haugh to move to the street.

Now Deputy Commissioner Ben Ward arrives, with Farrakhan at his side, he shouts to the superior officers that the cops immediately leave the mosque. The crime scene was abandoned. Farrakhan and Rangel are shouting to the superior officers “if you stay, there is nothing we can do to protect you. You’ll be overrun. There’ll be rioting. People may be killed.” Farrakhan and Rangel ‘promise’ that the prisoners would come to the 24 pct. at five o’clock to be questioned. Do you think anyone showed up?Phil Cardillo died six days later. Mayor John Lindsay and Commissioner Pat Murphy did NOT attend the funeral.

A few days after Cardillo was buried. Deputy Commissioner Ben Ward was quoted in the Amsterdam news: I believe that my investigation has pointed out, at least to my satisfaction, that there were some errors made on the part of the police. For the errors, and for the consequence of those errors, I apologize to minister Farrakhan.”

Recognize any names?

Some interesting comments from friends and loved ones of Officer Cardillo is here:

My Dad, Deputy Inspector John J. Haugh, was Patrolman Philip Cardillo’s commanding officer at the time of this criminal act. Dad retired from he force when, on the day Officer Cardillo was buried, he looked around in amazement to find that he was the highest ranking policeman present. Neither the police commissioner, nor the cowardly mayor,attended.

I responded to the mosque that faithful day @ rode with Phil to St Luke’s in a 26 Pct RMP. When I returned to the mosque there were 10 t0 16 men be guarded by PO. One had a turban (I believe this was Louis 17X Dupree who was subsquently arrested for Phil’s murder.) These individuals were told to meet the police at the 24th Pct. (FAT CHANCE) Inspector Deroma who I saw in the mosque later said he was directing traffic on Lenox Ave. There was no crime scene set up. Mayor Lindsay was on the Police radio stating there will be no riots in my city while Iam Mayor. Meanwhile ouside the mosque PO were being assaulted and Mike Oconnor from the 28Pct had his scooter set on fire. A reporter was also assaulted. Dupree was tried twice and the people lost 10-2 @ 11-1.

On Tuesday morning August 23, 2005 the wife of Officer Phil Cardillo, Joyce, was found to have passed away in her sleep. For those of you who did not know her, she was a wonderful and strong lady. She never remarried and raised her 3 children on her own.

I was a cop in the 28 Pct. from Oct. of ‘69 to Sept. of ‘78 (when I resigned from The Job). In the Spring of ‘70 I was assigned to a Precinct Unit called, Mayor Lindsay’s Fourth Platoon. We worked Special Narcotic foot posts from 6pm to 2am–in uniform. That’s how I met Phil. I often worked with him. He was a great guy and a great street cop. We used to get on rooftops with binoculars and observe heroin sales on the streets below (many of them in front of Jimmy Daniel’s bar, which was only a few steps from the hallway where Phil was murdered), see where the dealers would hide their stashes, then lock them up. In the Fall of ‘71 the 28 Pct. Anti-Crime Unit was created. Some of us from the Fourth Platoon took that assignment. Phil opted for a Sector car. On the day of Phil’s murder, I was working with Sgt. Jimmy Quinn on a stake-out in the 26 Pct. We were working an Unofficial Detail for Det. Sonny Grosso who was bending the rules to find BLA (Black Liberation Army) scum who had murdered Foster and Laurie in January of that year, and Piagentini and Jones in May of ‘71. When we heard that Phil had been shot we went to St. Luke’s Hospital and were among the first to give blood. The politically motivated disgrace that followed Phil’s shooting, and his death days later, was mentioned by others, so I will spare you my still bitter memories.

Here is a picture of the scene that shows the chaos:




The inspector is holding Det. Randy Jurgensen. He was struck in the head by airmail. Look at the photo of the cop holding his gun in the air after having just fired it. He was PO Lucian D’alessio of the 28 Anti-Crime. He was later killed by a drunk driver.

This is one book I am going to get. It appears that the officers who responded to that call in 1972 confronted terrorism at the hands of black Muslims, on our own soil, decades before 9/11.



________________________ ________________________ _____________

This is a great book and I personally know the author and his sons. 

You guys wonder what shaped and shapes my views on things - this story is part of it. 

[Skip8282]

Sounds like an interesting book, I'll have to get it.  Reading Blue Zones right now (pretty good).

I will give props to the Dems for going after him.  This bag of trash needs to leave for a prison cell now.

[Soul Crusher]

Sounds like an interesting book, I'll have to get it.  Reading Blue Zones right now (pretty good).

I will give props to the Dems for going after him.  This bag of trash needs to leave for a prison cell now.

When people wonder why i get upset at this crap, its because I know the people involved in these things and the garbage that goes on. 

Rangel helped cover up a murder and we are talking about a car parking in the house garage?  GMAFB. 

Same for all these other hack politicians I despise. 

and then when I call these vermin out I am called racist.  Screw them, call me whatever you want.   

[Skip8282]

When people wonder why i get upset at this crap, its because I know the people involved in these things and the garbage that goes on. 

Rangel helped cover up a murder and we are talking about a car parking in the house garage?  GMAFB. 

Same for all these other hack politicians I despise. 

and then when I call these vermin out I am called racist.  Screw them, call me whatever you want.   

That's because they're not going to get Rangel for 30 yr old shit.  It's wrong, but he slipped by.  The challenge now is to get him and, hopefully, stick him in jail.

[Soul Crusher]

That's because they're not going to get Rangel for 30 yr old shit.  It's wrong, but he slipped by.  The challenge now is to get him and, hopefully, stick him in jail.

Its overall Skip.  Its the totality of the scum that is Obama/Rangel/Pelosi/Reid/Waxman et al that galls me. 

[Soul Crusher]

Getting off easy. 

No freaking wonder.    
________________________ _________________

Subcommittee recommends reprimand for embattled Charles Rangel
 Network NewsX Profile

 
By Paul Kane
Washington Post staff writer
Friday, July 30, 2010; 2:18 PM

The subcommittee that investigated Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) has recommended that the embattled lawmaker face just a "reprimand," a mild form of punishment similar to that given to Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) when he was rebuked in 1997.

Subcommittee recommends reprimand for embattled Charles Rangel

Rep. Gene Green (D-Tex.) told reporters Friday that his four-member investigative subcommittee did not seek the high-level punishments of censure or expulsion, opting for a mid-level sanction that requires the full House to approve it but carries no other penalty.

"The recommendation we had was a reprimand," Green said, "and I'll let the full committee make that decision."

(Photos: Rangel's longtime political dominance)

Green and Rep. Jo Bonner (Ala.), the top Republican on the investigative subcommittee, are serving as the prosecution in the Rangel trial, which began Thursday in a preliminary hearing with the unveiling of their statement charging the former chairman of the Ways and Means Committee with 13 counts of violating House rules. They are presenting their evidence to an "adjudicatory subcommittee," made up of four Democrats and four Republicans who are serving as the judge and jury.

The charges include allegations that Rangel violated House rules or federal laws by soliciting donations from people with business before his committee to fund a center named in his honor at City College of New York, not paying taxes on a Caribbean home, improperly using a rent-stabilized apartment in New York as a campaign office, and not properly disclosing more than $600,000 in income and assets.

(Read the charges against Rangel)

If the panel finds Rangel guilty, it could then impose its own level of punishment. But the recommendation of Green and Bonner would weigh heavily on that decision, much as a prosecutor's sentencing recommendation would influence a judge in a criminal trial.

In January 1997, the House voted 395 to 28 to reprimand Gingrich because of the financing related to a college course the then-speaker taught in the 1990s. That reprimand also came with an unprecedented $300,000 fine because the outside counsel who conducted the investigation found that Gingrich had misled the investigation.

(The Gingrich case)

Green clarified the frenzy that led up to the final hour before Thursday's preliminary hearing, in which various media outlets reported that there was a "deal" or that Rangel was "close to a deal." No such deal or settlement was ever that close, according to Green. Earlier this month, after several face-to-face sessions with Rangel, negotiation talks broke down with Green and Bonner and the other two members of the investigative subcommittee.

In the run-up to Thursday's hearing, Rangel's legal team continued talking with the committee's nonpartisan attorneys, but never were close enough to bring Green and Bonner into the talks.

"I was never approached after about two weeks ago. There may have been discussions with other folks," Green said.

[Skip8282]

Getting off easy. 

No freaking wonder.    
________________________ _________________

Subcommittee recommends reprimand for embattled Charles Rangel
 Network NewsX Profile

 
By Paul Kane
Washington Post staff writer
Friday, July 30, 2010; 2:18 PM

The subcommittee that investigated Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) has recommended that the embattled lawmaker face just a "reprimand," a mild form of punishment similar to that given to Rep. Newt Gingrich (R-Ga.) when he was rebuked in 1997.

Subcommittee recommends reprimand for embattled Charles Rangel

Rep. Gene Green (D-Tex.) told reporters Friday that his four-member investigative subcommittee did not seek the high-level punishments of censure or expulsion, opting for a mid-level sanction that requires the full House to approve it but carries no other penalty.

"The recommendation we had was a reprimand," Green said, "and I'll let the full committee make that decision."

(Photos: Rangel's longtime political dominance)

Green and Rep. Jo Bonner (Ala.), the top Republican on the investigative subcommittee, are serving as the prosecution in the Rangel trial, which began Thursday in a preliminary hearing with the unveiling of their statement charging the former chairman of the Ways and Means Committee with 13 counts of violating House rules. They are presenting their evidence to an "adjudicatory subcommittee," made up of four Democrats and four Republicans who are serving as the judge and jury.

The charges include allegations that Rangel violated House rules or federal laws by soliciting donations from people with business before his committee to fund a center named in his honor at City College of New York, not paying taxes on a Caribbean home, improperly using a rent-stabilized apartment in New York as a campaign office, and not properly disclosing more than $600,000 in income and assets.

(Read the charges against Rangel)

If the panel finds Rangel guilty, it could then impose its own level of punishment. But the recommendation of Green and Bonner would weigh heavily on that decision, much as a prosecutor's sentencing recommendation would influence a judge in a criminal trial.

In January 1997, the House voted 395 to 28 to reprimand Gingrich because of the financing related to a college course the then-speaker taught in the 1990s. That reprimand also came with an unprecedented $300,000 fine because the outside counsel who conducted the investigation found that Gingrich had misled the investigation.

(The Gingrich case)

Green clarified the frenzy that led up to the final hour before Thursday's preliminary hearing, in which various media outlets reported that there was a "deal" or that Rangel was "close to a deal." No such deal or settlement was ever that close, according to Green. Earlier this month, after several face-to-face sessions with Rangel, negotiation talks broke down with Green and Bonner and the other two members of the investigative subcommittee.

In the run-up to Thursday's hearing, Rangel's legal team continued talking with the committee's nonpartisan attorneys, but never were close enough to bring Green and Bonner into the talks.

"I was never approached after about two weeks ago. There may have been discussions with other folks," Green said.

I was just listening to that.  A fucking reprimand?  Holy fuck...may as well just shake their fingers at him.  I'd have to check House rules, but I hope he can't get any chairmanships anymore.

[Soul Crusher]

More draining the swamp by Nancy.    

[George Whorewell]

Rangel-- a fellow Alumni of mine.... What a low life weasel.

It's hard to believe he fought in the Korean War.

My grandfather must be turning in his grave.

[Mons Venus]

I'm glad they're going after him, but give me a break on the "discrediting the House" crap.  As though that institution could be discredited any further.   





________________________ ____________
Washington (CNN) -- The House ethics committee on Thursday accused veteran Rep. Charles Rangel of 13 violations of House rules involving alleged financial wrongdoing and harming the credibility of Congress.

The charges accused the 20-term Democrat from New York of using his influence to solicit donations for a college policy center in his name from corporate heads and others with business before the powerful House Ways and Means Committee that Rangel chaired until forced to give up the leadership position earlier this year.

Other charges involve alleged income tax and financial disclosure violations, as well as improper use of government mail service and letterhead.

"Credibility is what's at stake here; the very credibility of the House itself before the American people," said Rep. Mike McCaul, the ranking Republican on a subcommittee that will hold a trial-like hearing on the charges against Rangel.

McCaul spoke at the subcommittee's first meeting, described as an organizational session. Rangel was not required to attend and did not show up to hear the first public disclosure of the formal charges against him.

Asked later about his response to the charges, Rangel sounded contrite in saying he may have been "overzealous" in serving the public but took some comfort that the allegations involved no "corruption" or "self-dealing."

"I can't make an excuse for serious violations, but I can have an explanation of my intent," he said. "And to large degree that's what my life has been all about--intent."



Video: Rep. Rangel speaks to press

Video: Rep. Rangel: On 'the list' RELATED TOPICS
Charles Rangel
U.S. House Committee on Ways and Means
Rangel said it was "a very, very rough period for me and my family, but we all, including my community, will get by this."

In the days leading up to the hearing, Rangel had said he welcomed the completion of a two-year investigation by the ethics committee so that he could finally respond to specific accusations against him.

According to documents released by the committee, Rangel first learned of the charges being pursued by an investigating subcommittee on June 17. He filed a motion to have the charges dismissed, which the investigating panel denied, the documents showed.

In a document dated Wednesday, Rangel's lawyers challenged the scope of the charges against him, saying Rangel "did not abuse his official position or enrich himself financially."

"He did not target for solicitation foundations, corporations or individuals with business before the Ways & Means Committee, nor did he offer or provide preferential treatment or favors to potential contributors," the document said. "He received no prohibited benefit, direct or indirect, from his work on behalf of this program that violates the ethics rules."

However, the document said Rangel "recognizes that the public would have been better served if he had consulted the Standards Committee staff in advance" of soliciting funding for the college center.

Rangel said this week that his lawyers were in talks with committee lawyers on a possible deal to settle the case without a hearing. When Thursday's hearing was delayed for 55 minutes with no explanation, rumors of an imminent agreement quickly spread.

iReport: Sound off on this story

However, the panel gathered and held the hearing, and it remained unclear whether a settlement avoiding the spectacle of a trial hearing was possible.

According to the charges, Rangel allegedly failed to report more than $600,000 on financial disclosure reports and improperly used a rent-subsidized apartment as a campaign office for over a decade and failed to pay taxes on a home in the Dominican Republic.

Rangel "argues that errors on his personal taxes do not implicate discharge of his official responsibilities," committee investigators concluded in response to Rangel's request to have the charges dismissed. He "appears to be operating under the erroneous belief that the only conduct subject to discipline is conduct directly related to the discharge of his official responsibilities."

An investigative subcommittee report on Rangel's dealings, available on the committee's website, detailed a lengthy series of meetings the congressman held with business leaders to raise funds for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Policy at the City College of New York. His repeated attempts to woo potential donors violated the House's solicitation and gift ban, the report said.

Among other things, the report stated that Rangel met with a lobbyist for insurance giant AIG in April 2008 with the objective to "close" a $10 million "gift for the Rangel Center."

At the meeting, "AIG raised concerns about a potential donation, including the potential headline risk," the report stated. But Rangel pushed ahead, asking "AIG, at least twice, what was necessary to get this done."

During the period of time that Rangel was seeking donations from AIG, according to committee investigators, the company was lobbying the House on several tax and trade issues -- matters over which Rangel exercised considerable influence.

It also noted that, in March 2007, he used congressional letterhead to send notes to business leaders such as Donald Trump, in which he requested meetings to discuss the Rangel Center.

The congressman's "acceptance of favors and benefits from donors to the Rangel Center ... might be construed by reasonable persons as influencing the performance of his governmental duties," the report concluded, adding that the "accumulation of (Rangel's) actions reflected poorly on the institution of the House and, thereby, brought discredit to the House."

In the July 28 response, Rangel's lawyers argued that some of the cited infractions were unintended in his effort to help the college.

"If he mistakenly used the wrong letterhead or other modest resources in this worthy cause, the error was made in good faith," the document said.

"It is undisputed that every single charitable contribution in this case went to CCNY, a public educational institution, and not to the congressman," it said, later adding that"the uncontroverted evidence is that Congressman Rangel never suggested that any donor to the Rangel Center would receive favorable consideration in legislative matters and never gave preferential treatment to any contributor."

McCaul said the allegations against Rangel, if proven, would violate "the most fundamental code of conduct" for House members.

Rep. Gene Green of Texas, a Democrat who led a two-year ethics subcommittee investigation of Rangel, said it was a difficult job.

"The task is even more difficult when the subject has befriended and mentored so many new members, and I'm one of them," Green said.

Another ethics committee member, Republican Rep. Jo Bonner of Alabama, said "this is truly a sad day where no one, regardless of their partisan stripes, should rejoice."

Rangel temporarily stepped down as Ways and Means Committee chairman earlier this year following the announcement of an ethics investigation of several allegations, including failure to pay taxes on the Dominican Republic residence.

The House ethics committee previously admonished Rangel for violating rules on receiving gifts. Specifically, the committee found that Rangel violated House gift rules by accepting reimbursement payments for travel to conferences in the Caribbean in 2007 and 2008.

Rangel, whose autobiography that discusses his Korean War experience is titled "And I Haven't Had a Bad Day Since," told reporters earlier Thursday that "I have to reassess that (statement)" in light of the pending hearing.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said Thursday -- in response to a question about Rangel -- that there must be "accountability" and "transparency" in cases of ethical transgressions.

"Holding a high ethical standard is a serious responsibility ... and a top priority" for the House Democratic leadership, she said. In terms of political fallout from cases such as Rangel's, "the chips will fall where they may," she said.

Congressional Democrats have reportedly expressed concern that an extended public airing of the charges against Rangel could damage the party's prospects in the November midterm elections.

http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/07/29/rangel.ethics/index.html

Rangel's just another DC crook waiting for his "slap on the wrist"

[Dos Equis]

I always thought he was pretty entertaining.  

[Soul Crusher]

I always thought he was pretty entertaining.  

Did you read my post about the murder of a cop he helped cover up?

[Dos Equis]

Did you read my post about the murder of a cop he helped cover up?

Yeah.  Outrageous if true, but that was 38 years ago. 

[Mons Venus]

Its overall Skip.  Its the totality of the scum that is Obama/Rangel/Pelosi/Reid/Waxman et al that galls me. 

With all due respect 33's...  ALL those coocksuckers on Capital Hill are crooks.

[Soul Crusher]

Yeah.  Outrageous if true, but that was 38 years ago. 

I personally know the author of the book about this, who is also the guy who was there when this happened and spent years investigating this.  I was good friends with his sons.  

I spoke to him at length over this issue and it is true.  

Rangel is a disgrace.    

[Soul Crusher]

With all due respect 33's...  ALL those coocksuckers on Capital Hill are crooks.

Yes, add in boehner, mcconnell, snow, collins, graham, to. 

[Mons Venus]

Beginning in 2008, Rangel has faced a series of allegations of ethics violations and failures to follow tax laws. In February 2010, the House Ethics Committee concluded that Rangel had violated House gift rules by accepting payment from corporations for reimbursement for travel to conferences in the Caribbean, and required him to repay those expenses.

 The Ethics Committee has also worked on three more serious investigations, which involve allegations of improperly living in multiple rent-stabilized apartments in New York City while claiming his Washington, D.C. home as his primary residence for tax purposes, of improperly using his office in raising money for a public policy institute in his name at the City College of New York, and of failing to disclose rental income from an apartment in the Dominican Republic.

 In March 2010, Rangel stepped aside as Ways and Means chair. In July 2010, Rangel was charged with 13 counts of violating House rules and federal laws, and will face a formal trial in the House to determine his fate.


Mons = Waiting 4 slap on Rangel's wrist. 

[24KT]

I'm glad they're going after him, but give me a break on the "discrediting the House" crap.  As though that institution could be discredited any further.   

I saw a clip last night on Jon Stewart where a reporter from MSNBC was asking Rangel how he felt about the situation, and I couldn't believe the guy stated the reporter was asking him a stupid question. How arrogant is that? I couldn't believe my eyes. I couldn't imagine that kind of hubris this side of the border. It was like the guy was smoking crack or something. either that or the climate of corruption is so commonplace that to be indicted or called out by the ethics committee is really a joke. 

[Coach is Back!]

Dude (and government libs in general) lie, cheat and steal and all he gets is a slap on the wrist...pathetic!

[Soul Crusher]

Dem leaders, donors to hold Rangel birthday bash at The Plaza
The Hill ^ | 07-31-10 | Alexander Bolton



From The Hill:



Democratic leaders and major party donors plan to hold a lavish 80th birthday gala for Charles Rangel at The Plaza Hotel in Manhattan next month, despite 13 ethics charges pending against the veteran lawmaker.

Lobbyists and other party donors received invitations this week to join Sens. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) and Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.) and New York Gov. David Paterson at one of New York’s finest hotels to celebrate Rangel’s birthday.

Gubernatorial candidate Andrew Cuomo and New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg are also listed as featured guests, according to an invitation viewed by The Hill.

Some potential guests received the invitation a day after the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct issued a report accusing Rangel of multiple ethics violations.


While some Democrats think Rangel has become politically radioactive in Washington, the invitation lists a variety of enticements to get people to show up to his birthday bash and contribute to his campaign.

Aretha Franklin, the “Queen of Soul,” will serenade them and guests who pony up $200, $500, $1,000 or $2,500 for tickets. The funds will go to the Rangel Victory Fund, a campaign account.

The 2010 Rangel Birthday Gala is planned for August 11th despite the fact that Rangel’s actual birthday is June 11th.

Read the whole thing here. Read that last sentence again.
 


View article...

[Straw Man]

I'm glad they're going after him, but give me a break on the "discrediting the House" crap.  As though that institution could be discredited any further.   

I agree with both sentiments

these people are public servants and we need term limits to keep get rid of these "lifers"

serve your constituents and your country and go back to your regular life