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Subscribe to RSSCharlie Rangel, the New York Democratic congressman found guilty of multiple counts of breaking House rules, is claiming the Ethics subcommittee was "unfair" to him.
NBC's Doug Adams has the statement:
Rangel Deplores Ethics Committee Findings
Lawmaker Cites Committee Chief Counsel's Declaration That There Was No Evidence of Corruption or Personal Gain
"How can anyone have confidence in the decision of the Ethics Subcommittee when I was deprived of due process rights, right to counsel and was not even in the room? I can only hope that the full Committee will treat me more fairly, and take into account my entire 40 years of service to the Congress before making any decisions on sanctions.
I am disappointed by the unfortunate findings of the Ethics Subcommittee. The Committee's actions are unprecedented in view of the fact that they arrived at without rebuttal or counter evidence on my behalf.
While I am required to accept the findings of the Ethics Committee, I am compelled to state again the unfairness of its continuation without affording me the opportunity to obtain legal counsel as guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution.
This unfair decision is the inevitable result of the Committee's insistence on moving forward despite the absence of any legal representation on my behalf. The Committee elected to reject my appeal for additional time to secure new counsel and thus acted in violation of the basic constitutional right to counsel.
The Committee's findings are even more difficult to understand in view of yesterday's declaration by the Committee's chief counsel, Blake Chisam, that there was no evidence of corruption or personal gain in his findings.
From here forward, it is my hope that the full Ethics Committee will take into consideration the opinion of its chief counsel as well as the statement by Rep. Bobby Scott, a member of its investigatory subcommittee who said that any failings in my conduct were the result of "good faith mistakes" and were caused by "sloppy and careless recordkeeping, but were not criminal or corrupt."
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Wah!! He had 2 years to figure this out and get counsel. And the reason he wasn't in the room is that he walked out.
No sympathy Charlie.
kirby in idaho
Wah!! He had 2 years to figure this out and get counsel. And the reason he wasn't in the room is that he walked out.
No sympathy Charlie.
Umm Kirby, in all due respect the attorneys quit last month.
He's gonna lost his rank.
I understand that Beverly, but he has been aware of what has been going on since day one. When his attorneys quit he could have hired new ones. He just thought it would be business as usual and they lit him up.
I am sure he was surpised they didn't give him more continuances. Maybe they are starting to be aware of the public mood about corruption.
kirby in idaho
I understand that Beverly, but he has been aware of what has been going on since day one. When his attorneys quit he could have hired new ones. He just thought it would be business as usual and they lit him up.
He couldn't afford to pay the 2 mil to the lawyers. And couldn't accept pro bono as it would have been an in kind gift. So essentially, the water was muddy.
Beverly, you don't really think he was denied any kind of due process, do you? This has been going on for over 2 years. Charlie actually seems surprised about the whole thing.
Whether he has an attorney present or not wouldn't have mitigated the facts. And saying they were unfair because he wasn't there is ludicris since he walked out.
Rangel Called for the process to investigate him. They did. they indicted him, Now when it comes to play day. He dicides he doens't wanna play and thinks he is gonna take his ball and go home. To Bad Rangel. YOU ARE GUILTY. You should be removed from your position and your Retirement should be Stripped from you. You are Scum of the Earth and dont deserve my Tax Dollars..
Charlie i have had a problem with you since the 08 primarys when in your district alot of votes were lost, not counted. the reason why is your unfallable love for hillary and the threat you saw from then senator Obama. these Ethics violations are just something you got caught doing, but we all know charlie there is alot more you have slid under the rug and will never come out.
Be thankfull that this is it and your not going to jail for voter fraud. do what OJ should have done and that stay low, keep your mouth shut and either retire before your election in 2012 or retire now.
there was not a thing unfair about this process, the same process you saw other congressmen go through and was not unfair to them, so this is not unfair to you.
Sorry Charlie
Charlie should be thankful and humbled he isn't going to jail like an ordinary citizen would have for such shenanigans, but just like his peers he thinks he gets to play by his own rules, and he has to a large extent. He should do everyone a favor and take his punishment like a man, people would respect him more for it, I would hate for him to be remembered as an old whining elitist.
Cannot say I am surprised as this outcome was expected. Another politician to add to the long list of those taking advantage of the public trust.
He won with something like an 80% margin! Just how big a crook do you have to be in NY to be thrown out of office?
Look at who voted him back into office. Only illegal aliens, deadbeats, mental patients, crack heads, welfare recipients and complete idiots vote in his district.
The democrat coalition?
Dear Bev,
Are you really defending this guy??
Oh, I bet you probably think Al Capone was a good guy too!!
Good ole Al was throw in jail for tax evasion, this is what should happen to Charlie, two peas in a pod!!
How pathic, just truly sad!!
Which part of the hearing being on the calendar for months in advance, his lawyers walking 2 and a half months ago and Charlie, himself an ATTORNEY, walking out of the room of his own volition points to unfairness? With an 80% voting majority, I wouldn't think it would have been too difficult to start scraping together his legal defense fund 2 and a half months ago when he was told he had no further representation. I bet even his Harlem district could have scraped up a few bucks to fund their patron saint. Or is it that even though they won't vote him out, they know there was no defense of his actions so even they weren't taking that sucker bet? Either way, can't say my heart bleeds. When you're a part of the body that votes for the rules, tax codes and spending bills we the people have to live with, you damn well better be capable of following the rules you have created. You have no excuse for not knowing them and if you "forgot" then you should probably retire so someone with a sharper mind can take your place.
Now if they would only investigate the rest of the criminals: Nancy, Barney, Harry and Barrack
I have to confess the statements by Congressman rangel do not hold water and actually makes me feel uncomfortable. The date of the hearing was set and if there was a problem in securing counsel would not that debate happen prior to the hearing and not at the hearing. Finally, you can't complaint about due process if you leave the room and later on state that your rights were violated. I would think you would have stayed in the room stating the fifth until counsel is present.
Just my thoughts.
When Rep Rangel had the money before the elections - the ethics commitee REFUSED to hold the trial. Charlie wanted it over a long time ago. I believe that they deliberatly drug it out so that he would run out of money. If you are retaining a lawyer and don't know when you are going to trial - the lawyer still must be paid. Almost everyone knows that - I thought you guys in this opinion group were smarter.
I think he should run for the Senate - In New York he might win. I would love that.
I think they held it off hoping not to make the elections any worse than the outcome actually was. Then they are trying to get it done now in case the punishment in the house would be more severe under the new membership in January.
No one took away Rangel's rights. He surrendered them by walking out when the panel, evenly split between Democrats and Republicans proceeded without them.
Cry me a frakkin' river, Rangel. Best be lucky no one ran you over with a Winnebago~
At the end of the day...nothing will happen. The Dems will never hurt their own, let alone a black member...So much for bi-partisanship.
What were the charges? The media gets carried away with the story of whether someone is or is not going to be convicted or what the polls are. Most of the stories don't state very plainly what he is accused of, other than he received illegal gifts. I seem to remember something about questionable vacations. That could be serious. However, if the lead investigator for the committee stated it was more a matter of sloppy records, then maybe that's what it was. And to castigate his district as dope heads and welfare recipients is perhaps a little racist or at least insensitive. Some of the districts in Alabama and Mississippi that vote solidly Republican aren't necessarily filled with rocket scientists. In fact, as LBJ predicted, before Title 7 they were yellow dog democrat, but after Title 7, they became Republican -OVERNIGHT! Now that is racist.
Well Dems, If I walked into a courtroom without a lawyer. You can be sure I won't be walking out a free
man. I think the FBI and the local police should detain Rangel and take it from there.
But then again, who would be so daring and brazen to touch Rangel with all of Harlem and NYC behind him. Not even the CORRUPT ONE who said he is going to clean up NY, Mr. Cuomo. Let me see he touch the UNIONS and TEACHERS.
Rangel belongs in prison. If I failed to disclose 600 thousand dollare , I would be behind bars. These are elected officals, they are not little god's, they are piblic servants, that some how believe what is good for you and me, does not apply to them