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A House investigative subcommittee filed 13 counts with the House Ethics Committee against Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) for violating House rules, including:
1) improper solicitations for donations
2) errors and omissions on financial disclosure forms
3) improper use of rent subsidized apartments for a campaign
4) failure to report and pay taxes on rental income from a vacation home in the Dominican Republic
Per NBC's Shawna Thomas, here is the STATEMENT OF ALLEGED VIOLATIONS and the documents the investigative committee sent to the adjudicatory committee.
Rep. Jo Bonner (R-AL) of the investigative committee said Rangel has known of the investigation and that it was almost complete at the end of 2008. But delays in requests for information and other factors led to the subcommittee just wrapping up its work in the past few days.
Rep. Michael McCaul (R-TX) of the Ethics Committee, said the charges stem from accusations that Rangel:
- Solicited foundations to fund a center bearing his name at City College of New York; that he used staff to do it as well as meeting personally with lobbyists to get it built.
- Used a rent stabilized/subsidized apartment for a campaign office (Lenox Terrace)
- On Financial disclosures and on tax forms, he failed to report rental income on a villa in the Dominican Republic over a period of years. For a decade, he failed to report $600,000 on financial disclosure statements for these periods.
"If proven, he would have violated several House rules and federal statutes," McCall said. He added, "We will handle this matter with the utmost professionalism and non-partisanship that it deserves."
Bonner called him a "powerful" and "well-liked member," lauded his life story, but said this has nothing to do with that life story. If true, Bonner said Rangel "brought discredit to this body" at a time when people have such "little faith" that members of Congress can do their jobs well.
"It's truly a sad day," Bonner said.
Leave a Comment:
This is going to be FUNNY!!!!!!!!
Joe, please, we're talking about a mans life here. Mr. Rangel has devoted his life to his district, his state, and his country. He is a decorated war veteran, a man that has helped countless people in the country, and a terrific family man. He has worked extremely hard and maneuvered his way to be chairman of the powerful Ways and Means committee, and has given his life to defining a fair and just tax policy for all the people of the county. He, oh wait, you're right, this is going to be really funny!!
Joe in Albany, JoAnnaSmith
No near as funny when the republican was trying to pick up male pagers on the senate floor. that was funny. believe me, this guy should have been goan last year. why he is trying to stick around is beyond me.
Jeff, Eric Massa is a Republican?
Jeff;
You forgot airport men's rooms...
*tap* *tap* ;0)
This is a perfect discussion to have about a prominent House Democrat less than 100 days ahead of the midterm elections.
Corruption of power is a welcome topic for this election cycle.
Voters need all the input they can get before making important choices about the nation's leadership.
Thirteen counts...
I wonder if DCCC Chairman Chris Van Hollen feels lucky today?
Nothing funny about this. You having a Wile E. Coyote moment, now THAT'S funny!! Meep, meep!!!
Auntie, do you "resemble" the term 'hunorless liberal'??
Sorry Charlie, adios amigo
Oh, look who showed up it's Ichabod Crane's banshee widow.
Well I thought that Charlie's lawyer reached a compromise but it seems the racist repugnant ones on this witch hunt committee don't want to compromise.
As if the repugnant ones aren't guilty of a lot of the same crimes like improper solicitation of donations. We all know thanks to Rachel Maddow's fine investigative reporting that many repugnant ones and a few dimwitted uberchristian dems have been living at the C Street Brothel of Corrupt Conservative Christians so why isn't the House and Senate investigating their own members who have gotten subsidized rent? Plenty of tea bagging repugnant ones like Scary Sharry Angle and many others have given financial disclosures that aren't complete, hey look at how Uncle Tom Steele left out the debt from his Racist National Committee financial reports.
Charlie was a real idiot for not amending his old tax returns to pay the tax on previously unclaimed income plus any applicable penalties and interest, not like he couldn't afford it. Wonder when the IRS will get a clue to audit him considering how public his tax evasion has become.
Time for Charlie to do one last service to his party by resigning now before this witch hunt goes any further and ruins the chances of all Democrats to get elected this November. While he is presumed to be innocent until proven guilty that won't matter to the facist racist Fox Noose channel who will convict him as guilty long before the committee figures it out.
Eric said: "Charlie was a real idiot for not amending his old tax returns to pay the tax on previously unclaimed income plus any applicable penalties and interest, not like he couldn't afford it. Wonder when the IRS will get a clue to audit him considering how public his tax evasion has become."
C'mon Eric, it's not gonna happen. The IRS Commissioner's boss is a tax cheat himself:Tim Geithner.
Crooks of a feather, flock together.
The timing is purely political. I wonder why the republicans kept this ace in the hole, until the 2010 mid term elections. (I mean two years to bring charges) If he is guilty as charged then do what is necessary and move on. The only activity that may be illegal is not reporting income to the IRS. These are ethic violations and we know all politicians walk a very thin line on ethics. I would almost bet this is not a resolved issued by November 2010.
Charlie Rangel is crook, pure and simple and his ouster is warranted. The IRS should also be looking into Mr. Rangel affairs as well. I'm not being partisan at all. 13 charges are a lot and spells doom for this man career in public service.
Corruption knows no party.
Eric:
I usually just skip right past your stupid remarks but you start your rant off by calling Republicans racists.
You have just proved a point. When you silly azz Democrats have no leverage, the first thing you go for is the race card.
Rangel is guilty...let his azz fry too. He has been in Congress too long anyway.
Don't know why I'm bothering, but not all tax underpayments constitute cheating. In fact, Geithner may have paid taxes for years out of statute (usually, three years from the time the return's filed), which would have been strictly voluntary!
Inthemiddle
I agree that this is not a race issue or party issue. Even Boss Tweed did good work for the community.
If he is guilty then boot 'em. And go ahead and use this moment to point out all of the other criminal acts done by our elected officials. They are all a bunch of liars and crooks. Throw the bums out!
Auntie, you shouldn't have bothered to prove yourself poorly informed. From a Washington Post 01/19/09 article:
Over several years, Treasury secretary nominee Timothy F. Geithner failed to pay Social Security taxes, even though he was advised by his employer to do so, signed an agreement indicating that he understood that such payments were his responsibility and received extra pay from his employer specifically for that purpose.
LMAO@U!!!!
Wonder if Charlie knows how to spell "T O A S T"
LOL Ron!
I don't care if you have an (R) or (D) after you're name - CHEATS are not tolerated by Democrats... PERIOD!
Now if you want to talk about the other side of the aisle... they tend to celebrate it!
Yes they do Feisty!!! But to hear it from them they don't. Never have and never will.
Well guys I'm out of here for my vacation. Yoo Hoo!!!!
Were going fishing down in Louisa, KY and catch us some Large Mouth Bass!!!
Write to you guys next week.
Were going fishing down in Louisa, KY and catch us some Large Mouth Bass!!!
___________________
I wasn't aware that JoAnna Smith resided in Louisa, KY - *tip*... throw her back! All she'll do is stink up your boat and attract flies! lol
Enjoy your trip TRR and thanks for stimulating the economy!
We'll hold down the fort in your absence! ;0)
Yatesville Lake, TRR ?
Thanks Feisty. We always catch and release but if she happens to get hooked on my line I'll be sure to keep and slaughter. lol
Rick...Yes it's Yatesville Lake. Love to fish down there, the lake is just so beautiful and the water just looks like glass. Love it!!!
Trr Barboursville, WV
Be very careful w/ the Joanna fish, they don't only stink, the talk
Be very careful w/ the Joanna fish, they don't only stink, the talk
________________
LOL Phillip!
That's why the JoAnna Smith fish is fondly referred to as FR's very own LARGE mouth ass... err I mean bass! ;0)
I won't defend Charlie Rangel. I do find it sad that someone who has done a great deal for his district makes a decision to evade the rules and laws.
I wonder if the committee is looking into the hugely subsidized rent for legislators living at C-Street. That's a tax problem, too.
Stop trying to get it twisted. This is about RANGEL not about C-Street. You're attempting to deflect away from Rangel but his azz is caught. He probably have been doing sh!t his whole time in office. He was just protected well.
BTW: Subsidzing is not a tax problem. That is what we call a hook-up.
"Gift in Kind" unreported as such equals Tax Evasion.
Sure this is about Rangel because he cheated on his taxes, but it is ALSO about C Street because they are cheating on their taxes. Can't wait for that can of worms to be opened by some enterprising journalist!
This is going to be delicious!
It is common folklore that more than 50% of taxpayers cheat on their returns by claiming things they are not eligible for but it is small potatoes compared to politicians and fat cats on Wall Street.
All the cheaters need to go away whether they have a D or R after the name. The IRS cut me no slack for a bill less than $400 which they placed on the installment plan!
ITM
Why is it that when the Dems get caught screwing the system you crow and bray like an azz, but when Repubs doing anything wrong wou deflect the subject to some odd tangent?
Yes Rangel needs to be booted, its that simple. But if you want to go off an different tangent, why won't the inhabitants of C Street come clean? There are Dems in that house too so everyone that there should come clean don't you think? Or would you rather pick and choose who gets crucified and who gets the wipe their hands?
Phillip:
I could careless about what any of them do on their taxes. I can talk about his azz because he writes tax laws...dumbazz. That is why he is toast.
Hell Wesley Snipes, Ronald Isley, etc. just got out of jail for tax evasion and he is a damn hypocrite.
You talk about Republicans, it IS DEMOCRATS who keep getting put on blast with tax matters.
C-Street doesn't have a damn thing to do with Rangel. If they had something on C-Street don't you think that partisan DOJ would have done something by now?
ITM
How about Ensign and this supposed gift to his mistress's husband? Bribe or gift, call whatever you want its still shady. And yes, there is an ethics investigation for Ensign and their should be one for C Street and its inhabitants. Your right, Rangel needs to leave because of the Commitee he chaired and its affront anyone, Dem or Repub
Hey Ichabod Crane's banshee widow how are things going for John Ensign and Tom "Dr No" Coburn?
Joe in Albany
This is going to be FUNNY!!!!!!!!
Funny is all the freaks in Republican who cheat and have illicit love affairs and Tea Baggers who tote strange signs!!
Charlie's time is up and he knows it. At least he did some things in his 40 years to help his district and this nation.
For certain,, you can't say that of the republican fixtures in Congress and the ones no longer there who mis-represented family and fiscal conservative values.
jomama72
Oh, look who showed up it's Ichabod Crane's banshee widow.
LOL, I think there are quite a few Republican still very much alive. But, they have a mean spirit following them.
Sure thing Bevvy, and people that care about their country, demonstrate peacefully, but have a view point different then yours, you refer to them as "Tea Baggers". Yeah, you're just a gem when it comes to demonstrating what a terrific spirit you have.
Classy Bevvy. Real classy.
Oh, and LOL!
JoannaSmith
Since when did spitting on Congressmen and calling them the N word peaceful? Since when did having a sitting President dressed as a witch doctor ok. Would it have been ok to have Ronald Reagan handing weapons over to the Iran ok?
no proof to that acusation. 100,000.00 reward for proof and no one has come forward . rangle geithner feinstein kerry dasshel all have tax problems rangle should go to prison for tax evasion.ask westley snipes what happen when you dont pay your taxes.members of congress get the best health ins. the best pay for the rest of their lives.this man should be ashamed and punished to the fullest extent,they are not above the laws they want us to adhere to.
Beverly,
Here you go again. Typical Dem deflect away from the subject. This is about RANGEL.
Somebody out there cheating on their old lady did not make Rangel cheat on his taxes.
Don't hate the player, hate the game.
This is what you all said about Ole' Billy Boy when he was pimpin' ole girl.
Jody
I wonder if the committee is looking into the hugely subsidized rent for legislators living at C-Street. That's a tax problem, too.
Jody, I doubt it. But, one never knows. Michelle Bachmann and Darrel Issa are anxious to do investigations. So time will tell. I predict it ain't gonna happen since anything that has to do with helping the suffering people finds Michelle Bachmann and Darrel Issa in La La land. Especially, this last caper of blocking funds for small banks they did.
Purely political timing, I don't know about that but one thing is for sure, you get caught cheating, evading taxes, and using your position to get things no matter how good your service was, your still a theif and that goes for what ever side of the fence your on.
For the Democrats, this is no lose and Charlie being used. They will be able to replace Rangel with someone more "new school", which means more liberal and more ideological. They will be able to make political hay out of how they cleaned their own house. Only Rangel's pride will be hurt, but it seems that his pride wasn't enough to keep him out of trouble.
Ok, what's the succession plan?
Richard, there is a small problem with the scenario you described. The House Ethics committee rejected the deal they and Rangel were working on. Now it goes to trial. A very public trial. In September and into October.
Rangel apparently believes he is not guilty of the charges against him. And he's willing to take his Democratic party down with him to prove it. To cut a deal with the House Ethics committee, Rangel would have had to admit to most, if not all, of the charges against, and more then likely resign. He's refusing to do either. So now there will be a trail. A very public trial.
Rangel is choosing to damage his own party. He, unlike Republicans Tom Delay and Make Foley, wants to stay and fight. Like Foley and Delay, Rangel needs to resign, if nothing else to preserve his party. Charlie looks like he's not willing to do that though. It's not clear if Nancy P has sat down with Charlie yet though. If she does, she probably can convince him to quit. It's the Democrats only hope at this point.
Thanks for the update. I was going under the assumption that he would take a deal. A trial would be a different deal.
On the other hand, another article quoted Nancy Pelosi as being resigned to a trial and saying:
"The chips will have to fall where they may politically," she told reporters. Pursuing ethics cases against House members is "a serious responsibility that we have," she said.
These folks say one thing and do another, but this quote almost seems to imply that a trial doesn't bother her that much. And if it doesn't, I'd look for it to somehow be a campaign tactic at some point. There is too much convenient timing going on right now.
I still think Charlie has the potential to be a sacrificial lamb, even though I like your scenario better.
Also take note: Now that we had a back and forth exchange here, look for Feisty et al. to make bad jokes and inane comments about what an "item" we are. Hell, someone else even had us as a husband/wife team.
Did you know that Feisty is Eric's sex therapist?
Finally! Now sensure the guy and move on to the business of representing the people. Funny in reading some posts one would think he was found guilty. The fact is that he is facing CHARGES. He is innocent until PROVEN guilty. So quick to hang someone, what have we become as a nation? Shame, shame, shame.
That said, yes, Rangel is probably guilty but until he is tried and convicted he is presumed innocent. I believe he will be found guilty on some, if not all, of the charges and the Congress will admonish him in the traditions of Congresss. He would be wise to resign but not compelled to but only after found guilty.
Actually, Adler, I agree with you. I don't suppose you would be kind enough to apply the same logic to Tom DeLay, would you? Did you know that he's still awaiting trial despite asking for one multiple times?
Go figure.
I won't disagree with you, but he is going to drag the country through the mud of this scandal. Innocent until proven guilty while correct, we HAVE to expect more from our leaders.
Go now Charlie... You are 80 years old, a trial is not what you want. Make a deal to avoid further legal matters, pay the taxes and enjoy retirement. If you love the country you will not put them through this.
btw this is in my opinion why we need term limits. If he was not running again, then I would say leave him alone. People don't realize how decisive this will be.
Hey Rangel .... pull a dick cheney and tell them to go fu---- them selves ! Your people elected you these bozos have no power to do anything !!!!!
Seems Rangel's been telling the people to do that for some time now. It's kinda why he's in trouble.
As a long serving member of the House of Representatives, it is very clear that ethics only plays a part in Charlie Rangel's mess. This should be a wake-up call to all Americans that House and Senate members should only have 4 year term limits. What is not seen and heard, are the hidden schemes behind closed doors with ranking members on both sides of the isle.
Wake up America! Time to kick all the bums out!! Bring in new members. I'm sure Michael Moore could produce a great movie on all ranking members and expose them for what they are. THEIVES!!!!
We should all ask the IRS for the "Rangel Exemption" --oh I didn't understand!!!!!! This has been going on for two years. Chuckles needs to act like a man and admit his wrong doing and Pelosi who promised to drain the swamp needs to kick his buuttt out now. No wonder the democrappers have no credibility. Just like their leader obami, they say one thing and do another.
I just love it when our lawmakers are lawbreakers.
It just boggles the mind. How can these supposedly savvy people not see the value in expelling this man from the Congress. Lead by example. Sure he probably knows where a lot of the bodies are buried, but he could drop dead from "old age" tomorrow an no one would suspect that he had died of anything else.
If I were Pelosi I'd let him know that.
Much like Albert Hanesworth, let him know that you've taken out a $200 million dollar life insurance policy on him.
It is not about if He did good for the community, is the principle that violated the Ethics of Congress. He should be kick out of congress and forbid him from political life.