Ethics committee releases charges against Rangel, begins ‘trial phase’

Today, a House Subcommittee Hearing announced ethics allegations against embattled Democratic Congressmember Charles Rangel.

Representative Gene Green, Democrat from Texas, outlined the process that led the committee to adopt the SAV, or Statement of Alleged Violations:

"After weeks of discussion the investigative subcommittee adopted a SAV on June 17, 2010. The charges and statements of alleged violations relate to four general matters: one, solicitations and donations for the Rangel Center for Public Service at the City College New York; two, errors and omissions on Representative Rangel’s financial disclosure statements; three, use of rent subsidized residential apartment by respondent’s campaign committee’s; and four, four failure to report and pay taxes on rental income on respondent's Punta Cana beach villa."

The committee declared that there is "substantial reason to believe that a violation of the code of official conduct has occured." In total, Rangel faces 13 charges.

Responding to news reports that Rangel could be working out a negotiated settlement to the charges, ranking Republican member Michael McCaul of Texas, said the time for that was over.

"There has been talk in the media of Mr. Rangel negotiating a settlement. Let me be clear that Mr. Rangel under these rules was given opportunities to negotiate while in the settlement phase. We are now in the trial phase."

That trial phase will most likely begin in September, when the House returns from August recess.

Rangel's position has contributed to some of the controversy, but whether or not the investigation will ultimately harm him is unclear. Michael Lawson has more from Washington:

TRANSCRIPT:

Flashing lights and lingering questions seem to follow Representative Charles Rangel these days. At a luncheon on Wednesday, the 80-year-old Congress member was greeted with resounding applause as he spoke before nearly 700 people at the National Urban League’s Centennial Convention in Washington.

“We can't give up, we can't give out, and we can't give in. And all I can promise you is- that when the sun shines, and everything is settled, we once again will be standing together with dignity and with honor to complete our jobs for our communities and for these great United States.”

Rangel was one of the founding members of the Congressional Black Caucus. His 40-year career in Congress makes him not only one of the most influential African-Americans in Congress but one of the most powerful Democrats.

According to Editor-in-chief of Harlem Torch Magazine Keira Wesley-Busher, the Rangel name has strong support from constituents in his Upper Manhattan congressional district:

“the face of politics, the political machine in Harlem. Pretty much celebrity but also he’s respected. He’s an elder statesman. And I think that’s what it means to most of us in Harlem.”

Now serious ethics allegations threaten Representative Rangel’s career. There have been calls from some Democratic colleagues for his resignation. News outlets have reported some donors have requested the return of their campaign donations.

Rangel himself has been aggressively ambiguous in his responses leading up to the results of a two-year ethics investigation. In a crowd of national press surrounding Rangel following his speech Wednesday at the Urban League Conference, FSRN asked Rangel how he thought his constituents felt about the allegations against him:

“Like I said- at this point and time I cannot make any comments. But I understand that you have a job to do, and you can do it. But if I say that I’m not making any comments, sooner or later you gotta believe me.”

Some say Rangel deserves a fair hearing, including Vincent Morgan, who is running against him in the November elections. He served on Rangel’s staff for three and a half years and was a year old when Rangel was first elected.

Even after the facts are presented, however, Morgan still expressed concern for Rangel’s legacy:

“It’s not a good way for someone who has spent 40 years in office, who has espoused certain principles, to have to deal with. So any way you slice it, it’s going to be a bad thing for Mr. Rangel, and unfortunately tarnish his record.”

Despite already losing his chairmanship of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, his supporters say that means little to the people in his district, some of whom have spent a lifetime supporting him.

Michael Lawson, FSRN, Washington

Photo: Representative Charles Rangel

Photo credit: RepRangel. Photo by Elbert Garcia