After the tea party ran tax cheats and those that cheated the government won election I don't care about Rangle. The country has changed for the worst.

I don’t know who is and/or looks sleazier, him or Rod Blagojevich.

The biggest thing about this comes to what they, this so called ethics panel , will actually do if not placed on notice by the public that we are watching them. Consider, the ethics panel is made up of other politicans...I believe EVERY politican should be audited by an outside group not controled by washington. This might help stop some of the crooked mess they get by with. I have yet to hear of any politican being before this ethics committee for mis use of lobbyist money, yet we all know they use it where ever they can. We all know it effects every vote they give out on every bill before them...there is way too much money involved for it not too.

New York Rep. Charles Rangel, whose ethics trial starts Monday, appears to have improperly used political-action committee money to pay for his defense, The New York Post reported Sunday.

Why not put this into the story?

anthrograd...

And they re-elected the guy!? Go figure? See how libs shove their heads in the sand to avoid facing the truth...

Puuhhhhh-leeeese......Mr. Rangel hasn't even began his days in court yet and he's already spent $2 million on lawyers ???

And...of course...he did not do anything wrong.

Good to know.

grunt...

"The country has changed for the worst"....because of the tea party.

I guess blaming George Bush will be coming next.

A few minutes ago Rangel excused himself from House Ethics Hearing claiming lack of counsel.

Hum....

DWF

the man is as smart as he is unethical. He's playing the system..

You think thats bad..... Try looking at the ENTIRE past Democratic adminstration of the city of Detroit. Kwame Kilpatrick is currently in Prison with his chief of staff. Several of his "business" partners were sentenced last week. His father and wife are looking at federal racketeering charges, as well as the looming investigation of Tamara Greene. Shes a former dancer that was dancing at a private party at the mayors mansion. Who was supposedly attacked with a bat by the Mayors wife, then found killed a few weeks later. The shells from the 9 mil at the murder site were Detroit police issue. You cant make this shyt up!!!!!!

His lawyer has charged him 2 million dollars???? Christ almighty!

RiverDog...

See DWF 1.7

It's not his money...why should he care?

It's cute how people still think EITHER party has any ethics whatsoever.

flbikerchick...

That was the primary reason for removing many of them this past election...if they don't "man-up" (or "woman-up" as the case may be), then they'll be gone as well. Folks are now paying attention to them...they'd better be watching themselves!

If Rangel is found to have violated rules, the ethics committee would meet to decide punishment. It could end the case with a critical report, or recommend a House vote expressing displeasure with Rangel's conduct.

Gee Congress, way to really punish the man. A critical report or expressing displeasure with his conduct? Really???

And Congress wonders why we think they're ALL rats. Well, duh.

The former Ways and Means Committee chairman made an impassioned opening statement that said he had run out of money to pay his previous attorney after spending nearly $2 million. Rangel argued Monday morning that "50 years of public service is on the line."

Obviously that 2 million didn't buy him out of trouble...... Maybe he should sell one of those 4 rent controlled units he owns illegally to pay for his defense........ Sorry, he's playing games, this needs to move forward.

(P.S. You can get a lot of lawyering for 2 mil., I'm betting that is a lie too.)

Idaho Dragon...

No sh*t...a mere slap on the wrist. Makes one wonder how many others have something to hide? Why not throw the book at this cheat...hummm, maybe that would open a Pandora's Box...ya think? Elected elite...scum!

Idaho, I think they can go even further than that. They can even recommend Congress "condemn" his actions. With punishments like that facing Rangel, why waste even 2 dollars on a lawyer?

Grunt; they don't care, that's why they continue to collapse you. They should all keep in mind, the big steal big and the little steal little.

I didn't know you could just walk out and refuse to appear. Maybe you can if you're way up the totem poll like the Washingtonians.

So if I break the law and can't afford a lawyer, I can just excuse myself from the trial and go on living my life?

The fact that this trial is being held with other congressmen as the jury is a complete joke. What's this about a vote to voice displeasure? Where is the impeachment? Where are the criminal charges? Why isn't the Department of Justice heading this up? If he can't afford a lawyer, why isn't one being assigned to him?

It's time to correct this aristocracy we have allowed congress to set up for themselves.

$2 million up to this point and $1 million to defend him further? Who are they BS'ing? I know legal work is expensive these days but that claim is ridiculous. Just another ploy to delay the trial. Why bother, no way in heck he will get more than a slap on the wrist.

Career politicians are what is wrong with The United States of America today. They tend to be too full of themselves and seem to think they are honorable.

We need to laugh at them more and stroke them less.

Since Rangel is Black, it's obvious that this panel must be 'racist'.

That argument usually works well for Black politicians caught with their 'hand in the cookie jar'.

Rangel 'demanded' the chance to defend himself before the elections, but now that the 'moment of truth' is upon him, he wants an indefinite stay. Hmmmmm.

cantakenomore,

I would imagine a lot of them have something to hide. Wouldn't surprise me a bit.

rightly amused,

Oh no, not that! Not condemning his actions!! How will he bear the shame of it?? (not just sarcasm but enormous sarcasm)

It does make you wonder why he even bothered with a lawyer doesn't it? I wonder if there's really more to it than it sounds. Sure doesn't make sense to spend that kind of money if all you're going to get punished with is the proverbial slap on the hand.

Unless of course it's all for show to try and make his voting base think he's innocent. That wouldn't surprise me either.

waaaaa waaaaaa waaaaaaaa - stop your wimpering Rangle - grow a pair and STFU. You spent $2M and didn't make arrangements w/your lawyer beforehand that this amount of money should cover counsel at trial? HeLLLLOOOOOOOOO! You didn't think to bind him contractually regardless of where you were financially to represent you after he seemingly fleeces you?

As a liberal Democrat, I'm tired of your whining, your excuses, and the damage you're doing to my party. Perception is everything. I perceive you're more baggage than we can now handle.

Get the F&*K out, and STFU.

Randy from Maine.

Vermont Democratic Rep. Peter Welch said that no law firm should be "taking the money ... and kicking their client by the side of the road."

Meanwhile, US citizens who have to live on a budget say no defendant should be spending all of their $$ on an overpriced lawyer and expecting things to end well.

If he were innocent, he'd have pushed for the trial to have been over with long before the elections so he wasn't a dead weight dragging behind the (D) label.

And thanks for yet another laugh grunt. You come up with stuff better than those UFO conspiracy theorists. At least they have doctored up pictures the resemble proof of statements though. Every election that didn't go in favor of liberals was "stolen", "they cheated", etc. Funny stuff.

Rangel has a law degree; why can't he defend himself?????

Funny how all you "righties" claim that the Dems are hypocrites that don't pay their taxes. Do you forget how your two biggest "saviors" McCain AND Palin were both caught not paying theirs a couple years ago? Yeah I thought so... once again the pot calling the kettle black (no pun intended).

P.S. NO I'm not for/defending the Dems... just pointing out the facts... not the Fox!

House Ethics Committee, sounds sorta like a "Prostitutes Virginity Committee". Ya Think?

Talk about oxymorons !

flbikerchick...

That was the primary reason for removing many of them this past election.

That's been the point of the last five elections, at least. As Einstein said, insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. Replacing one gang of criminals with another is NOT going to provide the change we need.

blzbub...

ROTFLMAO...funny, funny!

flbikerchick...

time will tell...we'll remove again if they don't listen. I know it's disheartening but, unfortunately, they are a necessary evil...

Unlike a federal trial, the Ethics committee is under no legal obligation to provide Rangel with an attorney. If he cannot afford one, he can still legally represent himself. He was a lawyer and a former Assistant District Attorney.

I would think that would qualify him to defend himself. It appears rather obvious that he is trying to drag this out.

bopdaddytoo,

Before calling on others to "educate themselves", you might wish to do so first. Starting off your comment with insults toward others only shows your own lack of education and/or manners.

As for Rangel not being able to afford an attorney, that's his own fault. The man can represent himself. He doesn't need a lawyer.

Oh and by the way...

In Feb 09, 99 sitting senators were surveyed with a simple, five-question survey to see if any of them ever had problems with their taxes:

1. Do you prepare your own taxes?
2. If not, who does?
3. Have you or the IRS ever discovered an error on a tax return you've filed?
4. Have you ever paid back taxes?
5. If the answer to either 3 or 4 is yes, please explain.

While a handful of Senators noted that they have found errors in past tax returns, resulting in payment of back taxes, what was found far more interesting was who actually returned their surveys and who answered (and who didn't answer).

31 Democratic Senators returned complete surveys, compared with only 12 Republican Senators. Further, 9 Republican Senators returned surveys declining to answer the questions, compared with only 3 Democrats who returned surveys and declined to answer. 2 Republicans returned incomplete surveys. 22 Dems and 18 GOP Senators have not responded. (Additionally, Joe Lieberman has not responded and Bernie Sanders declined to answer.)

Nearly three times as many Democrats returned completed surveys - and nearly three times as many Republicans declined to answer the questions about their taxes.

These results suggest that Democratic Senators are more willing to be transparent, and Republican Senators seemingly have something to hide in their taxes - or, at least, are less willing to be transparent. It's certainly not inappropriate to ask "What are Republican Senators hiding in their tax returns?"

Sure sounds like your defending the Dems. by the way they both suck

GovHater,

Your comment leaves out a rather large number of facts, so it is hard to actually consider it "evidence" of Republicans being less transparent than Democrats.

First off, how many Republicans received them compared to how many Democrats?

Secondly, who sent out the questionnaire?

Thirdly, where did you get your information?

Fourth, how did the Senators receive the survey? In the mail? In their offices? How?

Sorry but this survey information is full of holes and is subjective in its attempt to gather data.

As for Democrats being more transparent than Republicans, that's a laugh. Neither party is transparent. Neither party tells the truth, except when it suits them. Neither party can claim any kind of "moral superiority" and it is always hilarious when they try.

If you're looking for transparency in government, good luck.

No judgment coming from my corner, not even the suggestion about improper conduct from our 'public servants'(I'm not condoning it either) --congressional members had better look at how 'sloppy' they've been when they've spent taxpayers money like drunken sailors.

If Charlie Rangel doesn't have the dough, he'll need the assistance of a public defender--something any of us would have to do under the same circumstances.

I love the arrogance of the committee--they continued on without him! What a bunch--the silence from his cohorts is deafening now that Rangel has been taken to task. That is eactly why anyone thinking of doing what he did had better return to school and re-enroll in the 'Bonehead Ethics' course!

His deaf, dumb, and blind constituents deserve to be represented by a total crook, but he should do the honorable thing and resign from office immediately. He will have no power in the new Congress anyway.

I think the entire 'ethics panel' should be censured for taking 2.5 years to do nothing but spend tax money. If you have a case, make it and get it over with. Remember the right to a speedy trial in the constitution. What's that. You don't understand. That's CONSTITUTION. It's something from a long time ago, but don't worry, it doesn't apply to you guys anyway.

Shouldn't he at least get some support from the AARP? He's 80!

Gov Hater: I wouldn't answer the Senate tax questionnaire either. I've been a tax professional for 30 years. Many honest taxpayers make honest mistakes on their returns, and many honest taxpayers have to pay back taxes for no fault of their own. The questionnaire implies that a taxpayer cheats only as a result of errors or having to pay back taxes. Lousy questionnaire.

To what law are you referring? There was no exemption in the story. Are you making it up?

Rangel is nothing more that an ordinary crook. He should be thrown into jail if there is any justice in Washington, D.C. While they are at it, all of the members Black Congressional Caucus should be investigated for ethics violations. It two are under investigation, I suspect that the rest of them also have things to hide.

Even more astonishing is the NY voters gave Rangel another chance at Congress.

I remember when this thing with Rangel first came to light. Tim Russert's kid was interviewing him, and asked a pointed question. Rangel chided him for not giving him the "respect he was due", and not ask such questions. What BALLS Charlie has!!! Maybe he missed the fact that respect is not something that you are due, but something you EARN. This speaks directly to the problem with all these senators and congressmen. they think they are elite, above the law, and deserve special treatment. Well, let me be the one to say... you DO NOT deserve special treatment. You are in office to serve the American people. Do your job with honesty and honor and eventually you may earn the respect you think you deserve.

Rangel is a crook, a cheat, and just plain dishonest. He should never have been elected to 20 freaking terms in office. this is a perfect example as to why we truly need term limits.

GordyinIowa: The article stated in the second paragraph that this is a "rare public hearing."

One can hope that an effort will be made to disclose as much corruption as possible. Rangel was removed as chairman of Ways and Means so at least he is no longer in a position to shake down lobbyists who wanted favors. Unfortunately, this buy-a-congressman system is in place until people decide that publicly financed campaigns make it possible for people who are not independently wealthy to run for office; Rangel may not have been wealthy when he started buy he has certainly used his influence to his advantage.. Until now Rangel could look after his own self interests and those of his district. Let's hope the media will keep the spotlight on people at all levels of government to see that everything is above board in doing the nation's business.

This guy is a douche bag & needs to be thrown out.

Dude, this has nothing to do with Obama or Bush, the vast majority

of our politicians work the system for financial gain, why do

you think so many spend so much of their own money to get in

office and then never leave? Career politicians are the issue here.

gov...

No sooner does the ink semi-dry on a story about tax-cheat in chief, Charlie Rangel...and we have to read "What about the Republicans".

Boring.

Try staying on-topic....when a Republican politician is having his or her ass handed to them in an ethics investigation....that's the time to focus there.

Of course....any tax fraud committed by a member of either party surely must be the fault of the guy who got everyone cheating on their taxes....Mr. George W. Bush....but, of course, everyone knows that.

I don't condone what Rangel did, but he's not the only one, nor will he be the last. Welcome to D.C. politics.

With his huge legal fees I understand why he needs 4 rent-controlled apartments.

This guy is scum. He is a cancer to all black Americans. He represents some of the poorest Americans yet he robs them blindly with empty promises and hope for the future. The Congressional Black Caucus needs a total transformation!

Rangel walked out the last I heard. Frankly, as far as I am concerned, he's guilty of a lot of things and should be removed from office. Today he was crying that he did not have an attorney. How long have you known about this hearing Rangel?

Don't blame us when your legal team walks when you stiff them with a $2 million bill you have not paid.

It is said that he was sloppy with his personal finances. I would think that it should be said he is sloppy with the public finances also!

And to show just how ignorant his constituents are...they RE-ELECTED the scum bag. Apparently the voters in Harlem turn a blind eye to criminal behavior from their chosen one. Just makes me sick knowing he will get away with it when any other normal US citizen would be going to jail.

America you know you are standing at the edge of the slippery slope when it's OK for your elected Representative to commit acts of crime and you give him his job back...no questions asked!!

Ok, so the worst thing that can be done to him if he's found 'guilty' is that the house 'could' vote to censure him. Basically send him a letter saying, bad boy, bad boy!

And this is worth years of effort and millions of dollars in legal fees.

Don't they have better things to do? Guess not!

"Charlie", enjoy yourself as long as you can. You are another good Manipulator who have enjoyed the freedoms of being a crooked Politician. Yes, yes, the American people are not stupid; you only think they are.

Polticians treat themselves as Royalty, not Workers for the American people.

This is the same scumbag that was living in 4 rent controled apartments for decades overlooking the Hudson River, which are SUPPOSED to go to waiters, bartenders, artists and actors so they can live in Manhatten, not some privilidged Congressman. Rangel is the poster child for term limits, and if he is BROKE, then God save us all. How is a 20 term Congressman broke?, who is chairman of the ways and means commitee. If he hasn't saved some money by now, he is beyond pathetic! Jail is way to good for this total and complete jerk.

CK101 is just another example of people who blame Obama for things that happened before he was even in office. Why does no one blame Baby Bush for the state of affairs we're in? Maybe the best thing is to do away with career politicians altogether. Alot of these people have been born and bred to be in office whether they're qualified or not. It's the best way to get rich without breaking a sweat. They are so removed from the real world, they don't have a clue of what it's like to work for a living. I'm personally sick and tired of working for their paycheck and getting NOTHING in return.

This con/crook has had enough time to find an attorney, but he's looking for one that will play the race card in his defense. He needs to be sent up the river like the criminal he is, and he needs to pay out of his own pocket for his defense as well.

Maybe the best thing is to do away with career politicians altogether.

Term limits, anyone?

Realist...

But you are talking about the same people who thought Sarah Palin and Barack Obama were a good team. The same people who thought Obama's plan to remain in Iraq and keep Gitmo open were great policies...the same ones who call "tea-baggers" racists...

I guess I'm not surprised...sheeeesh!

And to show just how ignorant his constituents are...they RE-ELECTED the scum bag. Apparently the voters in Harlem turn a blind eye to criminal behavior from their chosen one. Just makes me sick knowing he will get away with it when any other normal US citizen would be going to jail.

Incredible. I feel the same about Jerry Brown. Brown tells voters he has the police in his backpocket and apparently most Californians just did not care.

RE: RENT CONTROL APARTMENTS. I used to live in one thanks to my boyfriend. Our rent was $160/month in 1990 - YES - $160/month. His parents were issued the rent control apartment way back before either one of us was born (ie, before 1960) and his father was not a starving artist.

Contrary to your opinion that they go to waiters, etc., rent control is no longer issued, only rent stabilized. I had one of those too. I had to pay $3,000 for the lease in 1987.

I don't even remember why rent control apartments were issued but they don't do it anymore and the only way to get one is to be in the family that has one and actually live there full-time. They are being phased out.

Rangel does not need 4 of them.

Both sides do it. Just throw him out, proceed with or without him. He been a seasoned politician should know better.

AS the former chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee he had no problem writing the taxes and getting us to pay them, but it was a problem for him to do the same!!!

This should have been over and done with years ago, only the Democrat majority in Congress protected him and others like him (Waters) it is time for this kind of mess to stop. If either side wants the public to trust them then Congress and the White House needs to clean house of those that think they live above that laws they write for us to live by.

The true definition of insanity= We keep electing the same 545 people to represent us expecting different results. We dont need career polititicans & they should have term limits equal to or less than the presidential seat. "Change" has been the oversold word of the last 3 years, but what is going to change if we keep allowing the Rangel's, Boxer's, Pelosi's & other bozos back in. They are totally out of touch with reality, dont live by the same laws they enact on us. They are hypocrits in every fabric of their making. Are they in office to improve America or improve their portfolio's, houses in the Dominican, or wherever. Throw is bum out.

Denver....

Your post is actually the most accurate as to the point of this whole mess.

Mr. Rangel 'has' and 'is' claiming that he had no bad intentions...just that he had been sloppy with the details of his plans to avoid paying taxes and follow NYC laws regarding 'rent controlled apartment'.

If that is the case, we have had someone "sloppy" as the head of the House Ways and Means Committee ????

If he cannot handle his own money & tax issues, why have the Democrat nitwits in the House of Representatives put this buffoon in charge of handling mine and yours ???

rut6:21,

Actually you are incorrect. Mr. Rangel does not have a legal right to have an attorney provided for him in this case. It is not a civil or criminal trial, therefore the right to have counsel provided to him does not apply.

If Mr. Rangel cannot afford one, that's his problem. The man could represent himself if he wanted to anyway. He is a lawyer and former Assistant District Attorney. I would think he could legally handle himself.

Whatever happened to 'You have the right to an attorney, if you cannot AFFORD one, one WILL BE APPOINTED' ?!?!?! I mean WTF!?

The FIX is in.....This is all scripted folks, the last thing Charlie wants is to get his 10 hours defending himself...he will have to speak. The Lawyers already got their $2,000,000.00 and were happy to walk away. His best chances are to let the committee make a decision without him saying a word. They will give him a slap on the wrist and let him stay.

I say, they should given him the postponement, call his bluff, wait till the New Congress is seated with a Republican at the head of the Ethics Committee and then let the show begin.

Pure Capitalism...This is NOT a criminal trial...they make up their own rules as they go along....

Pure see post 1.74

Plus he already shelled out $2,000,000, he can afford one, maybe not the one he wants but he can afford one none the less, and most likely one better than any of us could afford.

stormerf. FACT this dude is a flimflam man.

The Lawyers walked out LAST NIGHT, he said. Either they are in on the fix...OR...they found out that the last $400,000.00 payment they got came from Rangel's PAC which they may have to return....and I hope that is the case and they add this violation to Charlie's list of wrongdoing.....oppps....another accounting error.....but I didn't mean to.....

Strip him of his pension too !!!! CROOK !!

Ah, I see it now. Since he is a lawyer, he COULD defend himself. Like the other post said though, postpone it and let it resume when there are Republicans in charge and see how he likes the results then.

That would explain why his lawyers withdrew from the case. They can not ethically/legally represent a client if they know the client is engaging in illegal activity in the presentation of his defense. If they figured out he was using PAC money to pay for his defense, they were not only legally obligated to withdraw they were also legally obligated to report it to the adjudicatory body (in this case Congress) and to return the money.. Otherwise, they would be accomplices in the act.

I'm so glad he was caught. I'm so glad they didn't give him a pass. America is sending a message to government, that we are done with politicians stealing from America. Democrats and Republicans alike!!!

Rangle is another Marion Berry, a low life that keeps getting reelected by idiots. He is so old that he doesn't care.

Mussolini had an excuse also why he wasn't responsible for the way things are. Fortunately for the citizens of Italy, they weren't buying that day!

For all the IDIOTS claiming this guy ISN'T rich, what "poor" person do you know that pays $2M in lawyer fees? Where did this $2M come from? Why is this guy who makes $174K/year not considered rich? Why would someone spend $2M in lawyer fees if they didn't have more than $2M worth of stuff to hide? If this guy only owes the few thousand dollars to the IRS for backtaxes, etc, why pay $2M in lawyer fees when you could spend a HELL OF A LOT LESS paying your backtaxes? This guy is 100% crooked and has MUCH MUCH MORE to hide than these "ethics/tax problems" you've got your head in the sand.

Also, why can't this guy hire a public defender? He's had since August to come up with new counsel. A public defender is good enough for anyone else in Harlem, but not for him? Why aren't his constituents furious that he's essentially saying, "what's good enough for you, isn't good enough for me".

Ultimately, this is pathetic and likely a glimpse of how ALL "career politians" behave, regardless of party. Part of the answer (as previously suggested): TERM LIMITS TERM LIMITS TERM LIMITS!!!

He mostly used campaign contributions.....that's what dirtbags do....other peoples money:

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/manhattan/rangel_raided_pacs_for_ZlQ9s68r9cadmFBXvTeq1K

If it was one of us, we would never see the light of day. Just remember, he is typical of the people that run his party and the president surruonds himself with.

mgo...

I am definitely not an Obama fan but Rangel was in office long before BO was even a thought. Rangel is what's wrong with politics today...corrupt lifers who take extremely good care of their own. Why do you suppose he's only going to get his hands slapped a bit?

Start with term limits and remove pensions/healthcare for life. Maybe we'll start seeing "Statesmen" again...you know, people who truly cared for the well-being of the country, not the thickness of their own wallets...

Riddle me this, on one hand you have a steaming hot pile of dog $hit, the other you have Charlie Rangel. Which is more detestable?

Bad, Bad, Bad Boy.......Congressman Rangel.

Now take this slap on the hand, a letter admonishing your actions, and a significant retiree bonus with free medical care on your way out the EXIT.

Don't forget to invite us to your Vacation home for a going away party.

How do you like those apples, Mr. Rangel ??

This should be a wake up to ALL POLITICIANS both parties, play by the rules or go to jail.

He needs to lose his pension, benefits and send time in jail.

hardtostarboard...

I'll have to flip a coin...

so basically all that will happen is he will be told "bad boy - don't do it again" - this is disgusting - why bother with a hearing? Oh yeah - so the rest of them can lookm like they are doing something.

remember though;

as crooked as a thief and corrupt as a democrat RANGEL is,

pelosi, still can't give him enough accolades and states, "he is an outstanding congressman and we are lucky to have him"!

so, that being said, pelosi needs to be BOOKED with him! they are both dirt-bags! he's just been caught.

Just like Mc Cain when he had ethic issues the difference McCain was a good actor

david-1102226, pelosi is not a dirtbag,she is a corrupt skank.....get it straight.

What is really amazing is the way the article is written stating that it "violates House rules". BULL$HIT. It violates the laws. There are ethics reviews and training that are required of many government employees on an annual basis. And the very things he is accused of are things that are addressed in those trainings and reviews. If rangel had paid attention to the laws prohibiting the use of his "professional" stationary to solicit funds for a private purpose (college building named for him). He knew about the laws but obviously chose to ignore them. When chisam stated that

the congressman was "overzealous" and "sloppy in his personal finances."

he negated to point out that the ethics laws require a government employee to keep personal and professional activities separate for the purpose of avoiding the appearance of abusing your position to put undue pressure on those being addressed.

idiocarcy - (#1.85) He can't "hire" a public defender because it is against the "rules" for a government employee to use attorneys paid for by tax payers to defend his professional charges. The rules (actually laws) prohibit the mixing of most personal and professional activities. He knows that but is trying to play the system. His attempt to stall for time is to allow the public to support him on his defense fund rather than the taxpayers.

Chisam told the panel of four Republicans and four Democrats that there were no questions "as to any material facts in this case. As a result the case is ripe for a decision."

And because these eight members know the laws, they know that rangel clearly violated what he asserted he would not do.

As the staff director, Mr. Chisam oversees the day-to-day operations of the committee. The committee provides ethics training to every staff member on the Hill at least once a year, offers formal and informal advice to members and staff regarding questions about ethics and conduct, reviews and certifies financial disclosure statements, and approves all privately sponsored, officially connected travel.

What may not be apparent to most is that if this was merely a violation of House rules there wouldn't be the need for an attorney. But chuck knows it goes much deeper than that and that is why he is so adamant about having an attorney present. He has tried to bluff his way out for the past 2-1/2 years and it has still led to this. Now he is trying to pressure the commitee into backing down by his comment that they he has been a public servant for five decades and that should be enough to allow some leeway -

saying that "50 years of public service is on the line."

Just a late night thought here folks and please correct me if I am wrong.

Isn't the failure to pay taxes on income considered tax evasion? And doesn't the crime of tax evasion normally come with a prison sentence if you are caught?

If so where are the Feds, where is the IRS?

This is a good beat up Rangel thread.

I have no use for the guy.

Hey, the place is full of lawyers, just appoint one free for him and let's get on with it.

stormerF

Grunt,..a good handle seems all you do is groan and complain about things you have no proof of. Grow up at least post a fact now and then.

After further review of his posts, you are absolutely correct! Good call.

The days of Rangel receiving whatever he asks for are gone. He now knows it and so does the World. That was a total and complete melt down on Rangel's part when his only defense to delay the inevitable was to proclaim he has no defense. He claimed his legal team quit on him due to lack of funds? It only took 2 million to break Rangel's bank? This whole picture stinks of guilt. Let's see what punishment will be handed down.

"Chisam also said, "I see no evidence of corruption" by Rangel. Rather, he suggested, the congressman was "overzealous" and "sloppy in his personal finances"...THIS IS A JOKE RIGHT.? If any other citizen if this country did as he has doe they would already be behind bars, however, it seems our elected have a different set of rules that allows them to do whatever...and when caught get a pass.

McCain and the Keating five==look it up!

If you read carefully - the case is 2 1/2 years old - not administration, but the last one

Shocking that he was re-elected...Shame on NYC

Bet he gets a slap on the wrist and a pat on the head

No worries; I'm sure that he will be re-elected in 2012.

He should be removed from Congress by Congress; his constituents are evidently too stupid to vote him out of office.

Another reason for term limits.

i agree that there are political/racial considerations here, but holy Jesus, call a spade a spade., WINK< WINK or call me Mr. President. Still the same monkey, still the same banana. Peace

ok ck101 please explain to me how this guy is so closely related to the Obama administration. this guy was in office LONG before Obama yet u say "great example on how the government, and this administration in particular," i dont see how his actions can represent, or be an example of, this adminstration besides him being a democrat. also when u imply both him and this administration "are passing laws that they enforce upon the citizens, yet feel they are exempt from obeying themselves" which laws are u reffering to that the Obama administration passed yet don't follow themselves? or to make it easier for u, which laws in general does this administration not follow? lol. Either way each person has their own opinion and i think simply categorizing everyone as either strictly Republican or strictly Democrat is the beginning of our ignorance.

the answer is obviously 11 examples. DUH

Why is he still a member of Congress. His behavior is not something anyone should emulate. I find it deplorable that this man would seek money from the public after he screwed them by abusing his authority and his scared office.

Have another party, Charlie, dance the night away.

You break the law...You pay the price...PERIOD

The first thing that comes to mind is the old adage: Power corrupts and absolute power corrupts absolutely.

The partisanship should be left at the door - every Politician is corrupted in some form or fashion within the first 2 years. Some of it is thought induced, some is on automatic pilot. Nonetheless, it begins long before they first walk into their office. The beginning is the first handler that pushes them towards and then into service. The campaign financing vehicle is almost hand in hand with the corrupters that slide them into office on their dollars and the handouts that are expected afterwards. Until that initial and most flagrant of the evils of office is dealt with, we will keep getting what someone else has paid for.

Mr Rangel is no more or less guilty than a bank robber who has robbed one back versus one that has robbed 13.

They found him guilty but they will do nothing to punish him. Why did they even waste the money on a trial? They all protect each other at the same time that they put on a show to act like they are looking after the interests of the people. Once again those in government are above the law and above the people.

"The country has changed for the worst"....because of the tea party. I guess blaming George Bush will be coming next.

Wouldn't it be wonderful if for just once people could get beyond partisan politics and focus on doing something about corruption, which is obviously bipartisan, not to mention almost ubiquitous by now? Or overhaul a system in which the worst that can happen is that the jury of his peers, aka his fellow crooks, get to point their fingers and say, in effect, "Bad boy! Shame on you for getting caught!"

Not quite sure how Mr Obama in anyway had anything to do with Rangel's crimes committed long before Mr Obama took office. Grasp at those straws, it's all you have left.

Certainly guilty of the old "Do as I say not as I do." Throw his arse out and yank his pension and other benefits.

What a way for Rangel to end a Glorious Political career.

Why do people at the "Top of The Mountain" always self destruct themselves?. Are they more superior than the rest of us?

Rangel has lived like a King for 52 years. It is time to have Term Limits put on all Politicians. They get DRUNK with Power; their decision making gets so skewed, they are out of Reality, including stealing our hard earned money..

Can one imagine how many more Politicians have been "screwing" us; especially the old timers.

Daniel Inouye of Hawaii was just re elected to the Senate. He is 82 years old; this is not a Monarchical job. It takes new ideas, good ethics and Intelligence Agencies watching over them.

It is extremely important TERM LIMITS be put ino effect.

Is Rangel going to be under "Mansion Arrest"? No big deal. He'll still live well, but does he have a "conscience"---these guys are "sick".

I love this...

"Possible punishments include a House vote deploring Rangel's conduct"

Okay, a public shaming. Maybe we should do this for other criminals as well? It's the nah ny nah ny boo boo punishment.

Fire him, make him serve time in prison, and fine him for sh_t sake, just like you would any other common thief... This is what's wrong with the political system, because there is no accountability for their actions, only money, OUR money...

ck101 how can you quantify the statement " this administration in particular" when this kind of crap has been going on for decades. Right now in Texas, Tom Delay (R) is on trial for illegally funneling money to texas republicans to get them elected. The problem is (Career Politicians) who (1) think they are above the law and (2) think they are too smart to get caught. This holds true for both Democrats and Republicans. Both parties share the blame for the mess our country is in. We (the voters) need to grow a spine and throw all incumbents from both parties out of office and keep doing so until they (our representatives) vote for the will of the people and not special interest groups, lobbiests, etc.

Time for zero tolerance for elected officials. Break a law, any law, you're kicked out of office, you pay the maximum penalty allowed by law, and you may never serve, nor lobby again.

Democrats and Republicans should be ultimately satisfied that the ethics committee does its best to keep corruption out of politics. But I doubt they will be, because they are now represented by the looney bin crowd. Here's a hint if you are in the looney bin...you've been an eligible voter for at least 10 years and never even once voted for someone outside of one party. Anyway, I am as glad that this guy was busted as I am any politician who abuses their power. Which is most of them. Unfortunately, most don't get caught...

Sorry Charlie...

Cry me another river!

Now, if his "peers" take away his bennies for life, they'll have my respect.

To cantakenomore...

"Now, if his "peers" take away his bennies for life, they'll have my respect."

That's the problem with the system. The overwehlming majority of politicians will opt for a public shaming, because most are guilty of something and don't want the legal presedence set when they potentially go to trial. This is going to be a slap on the wrist. He'll still get his pension, then go on and publish a book, and then become a lobbyist (worst case).

He should be banned from any sort of political contact, stripped of all government funded golden parachutes, and forced to finish out his days as a Walmart greeter...

That would be justice served, because he'd live the rest of his life as a lowly citizen employee, eeking by paycheck to paycheck...

Freaks me out how anything that's wrong get's to be Obama's fault.

Rangels hearing was before HR committee because he violated HR rules of conduct. These rules do not apply to non member (Senators or average citizens).

He should have his pension and benefits revoked and not permit him to be seated in HR ever again. If re-elected let his district go without representation.

Rangel is an arrogant SOB & deserves to be jailed, but I'm curious what this administration has to do with Charlie Rangel? Can you read? He has been in office for 20 yrs.

I didn't read all the comments there are too many, but I find it interesting that people are blaming the administration. This started 2 1/2 years ago, that was the Bush years. A better question is why do voters continue to support politicians like this? But then again given the last election, I guess voters will believe anything politicians tell them. BTW just because a person hasn't held public office before doesn't mean they aren't politicians. They become a politician and often a career politician the minute they put their hat in the ring. I heard a great editorial on this very thing right before the election, all politicians and so called career politicians had some other job before they ran for office the first time. I am not sure how I feel about term limits, because I feel the voters should have the right to pick whomever they want to serve, but the problem is voters who vote with their emotions and not their brains. We need to be more educated about the issues and not just vote for a party. I am a registered republican, but I vote for the person not the party. I encourage everyone else to do the same. And to the politicians, next time you run, tell me what you want to do for this country. I don't know about others but I didn't hear a lot of ads this year telling me what these politicians plan to do, but instead knocking down their opponents. Tell me what you will do to make this country strong, not what your opponent does or says. If you ask me most all politicians are unethical in some way, campaign promises are usually full of lies, but we still have to pick one. Try something new and tell the truth.

This isnt a party issue - this is another example of a career politician holding himself above the law. Rangle has served 20 terms - you guys really think this is an Obama or a Democrat problem. Americans need to start using their own brains and stopping letting political parties (Teaparty included) do their thinking for them.

What the hell does "this administration" have to do with it? Rangle was found guilty by a panel of 4 dems and 4 reps during "this administration."

He's a crook.

However....he could have gotten convicted of armed robbery today and he would still get 2/3 of the vote if he ran for re-election in his district.

ck ` Why are you balming the Obama adminstration? Rangle has been a Congressman for the last 40 years (meaning Obama was child). I wil agree that it is an example of how long-time politians do tkae advantage of their position (this is the fact of both parties). it is human nature to ry to get away with a much as you can for as long as you can. What does this say about the voters of his district? They just re-elected him again!. This guy should have just not seeked re-election..this might have went away quietly...but his ego got the best of him.

ck101 - Unfortunately, often Members of Congress come to believe they are entitled, and it appears to be the case with Rep. Rangel. However, in general this last Congress was very clean, and certainly the Administration is in no way guilty of your charge.

But we do have shockingly extensive recent example of what you alleged. It was the entire Bush Administration, with its flouting of Congressional action in the infamous "signing statements," its use of lies and deceptions to bring the U.S. into an illegal and immoral Iraq War,its use of torture and abuse, its underhanded and corrupt contracts with Halliburton and others, its poisoning of American air, land and Water through refusal to enforce environmental regulations, and, of course a global financial crisis.

And, also, given the terrible string of repeated GOP Congressional scandals over the last decade, Rep. Rangel is even so nearly a choir boy.

Looks lieka another bi*ch session about who's worse. Rep or Dem. All diaper-like similar, change 'em when full.

The only question at this point is "Do you want your slap on the left or right wrist, Congressman Rangel?"

My only question is, if they aren't throwing him out of congress and his voters keep electing him in landslide elections, what's the point in pursuing an ethics conviction? Sounds like they need to put some teeth into ethics penalties...

I'm enjoying seeing all the exposure of corruption coming to light particularly this year, which has been predicted.

Now that Rangel is found guilty. Rangel should be tossed out and stripped of pension. As for his penalty, he should receive the max, because of his disrespect for the trial and his responsiblities.

As for "Congressman" title, he should be immediately stripped of that privilige.

guilty... oh well back to business as normal.

Robin Steele

Time for zero tolerance for elected officials. Break a law, any law, you're kicked out of office, you pay the maximum penalty allowed by law, and you may never serve, nor lobby again.

AND DON'T PAY HIS MEDICAL BENEFITS, PENSION, OR OTHER RETIREMENT! This is insanity, America. Theses criminals are getting away with EVERYTHING on OUR DIME. When we screw up at our jobs, we get FIRED and get the pleasure of continuing our medical benefits on COBRA which none of us can afford... we certainly lose any other income that we may have counted on. Why should they get any better than us when they don't do the job we hired them to do? Throw the criminals in jail as if they were "normal" citizens. Make them pay back their debt to society. Stop letting them milk us for things they do NOT deserve.

THIS IS NOT WHAT OUR GOVERNMENT WAS DESIGNED TO BE LIKE.

I think their are two things that the Federal Government should do.

Item #1 is to censure him in the worst possible manner and leave it up to the state he represents to remove him from office. He is put in to office by the people, he should be removed by the people or the laws of the state that he represents that lawfully can remove him from office.

Item #2-- what is the penalty for anyone else that lies to a congressional committee? It would sure be nice to paint folks like this with the same brush as we do with sports figures that lie to Congress about steroids....

And this doesn't need to become a partisan issue....I'm sure there are just as many on both sides of the aisle that aren't squeaky clean. Deal with the incident and move forward.

Write, email or call your congressmen/women folks...let them know that a vote to deplore his actions falls far short of actual action. Ask for an impeachment and a stripping of all pensions and benefits.

What I don't understand is why the democratic party didn't find another person to run against him in the primary. Why did they continue to support this criminal and his re-election?

But the good news is that all Republicans are squeaky clean.

Or, maybe, they haven't been caught, yet.

Put him in jail!!!!!!

They sent Al Capone to prision for income tax evasion.

Mr. Rangel gets what he deserves.

He's a Disgraceful Crook!

PuddleDuck - this isn't a Republican or Democrat issue...this is a corrupt politician that got caught.

Just loved Charlie's little dog & pony show at the hearing yesterday. He just couldn't even sit in the room during the hearing because he forgot to bring a paid attorney and nobody had simply offered to buy him one as a favor.

Boo Hoo.

He reminded me of the little fat kid on "South Park" who couldn't get his way and vented by exclaiming "Screw you guys...I'm going home".

"Go home" Charlie...you are a disgrace.

From the Constitution:

Each House may determine the Rules of its Proceedings, punish its Members for disorderly Behavior, and, with the Concurrence of two-thirds, expel a Member.

Why aren't they voting on this?

It's your turn next Maxine Waters!!

This man is Completely out of control, and the the hypocrisy is outrageous -

This is the person who makes the LAWS that WE must all Obey - And yet the most disturbing thing in all of this is that he is so utterly deluded that he is oblivious to the fact that it's just over. At worst he should have resigned, and at best... be in jail.

The people who managed the investigation, and who will eventually blow on the hand that will lightly slap his wrist for this are no better.

And these are the folks who wanted to put warning labels on Records??

Sickening.

Stripping him of his office and putting him in jail seems approriate.

Grunt.

H*ll Yes..Who else..If Bush is not to blame, blame him anyway...Takes away all the faults .Simple as that..Next case !!

Charlie, prepare yourself for a slap on the wrist and a strongly worded letter. Ohhh, that will leave a mark.

So far his response has been anger toward the august body that found him guilty of the violations. This boil on the ass of society needs to be humbled.

Grunt... that's a great name for what you sound like. No "tax cheats" were run by the TEA party. The absolute incredible issue that Treasury secretary Geitner is an admitted tax cheat and works for Obama... Rangles best buddy!! So when Rangle's gal pal Pelosi said she and the dems would drain the swamp (her exact terminology) they didn't think the worst offenders would be other dems! The other stunning thing is that as ms/nbc reports there are those allies of the dems, obama and Rangle that say he will not be expelled because what Rangle's violations amount to are "poor accounting"...! WTF? This creep was the chairman of Ways and Means! He was responsible for how our tax dollars were spent!

I find it highly insulting to everyone that some of you on here use this as an opportunity to play party politics. At least the republicans are putting our money where their mouths are and ending earmarks. Will it be tough? YES but worth it! If they don't "hang" Rangle for this then in 2012 there wont be a dem left in either the house or the senate. Mark my words... gone and good riddence!

I'm willing to bet that all politicians on "the hill" are guilty of at least 5 ethics violations. And that's a very conservative estimate.

So that's Rangles' excuse? The other guys (might be) guilty of ethics violations? Well if they were then why haven't Rangles' people brought it on?

No, I'm not excusing Rangel's actions. Not by a long shot. What I am implying is that this isn't about ethics violations. Not really. If this ethics committee really cared about their supposed duty and did what they were officially supposed to do with integrity that was beyond reproach then there would be a massive culling of the ranks in congress.

Think about it. Why did his legal counsel back out on him after he paid them 2 million dollars? Who does that? Something else is going on here. Some kind of backroom politics that we are not hearing about. What we see in the news is just the tip of the iceberg, a small portion of all that actually happens in the world of politics. There are reasons that they are going after him, and the fact that he didcommit ethics violations only provides a convenient avenue with which to try taking him out of the game. This isn't about right and wrong, this is about politics. The kind of politics that we don't hear about in the news.

Hey cmon now-he's been an honest crook for a long time now-give the guy a break! It would be interesting to check out his entire career and I'd bet more crap would hit the fan. Once a crook, always a crook-isn't that what they say? Who the are "THEY" anyhow? They seem to know everything- Maybe this smooth talkin polotician is one of they!!!

This corruption, at all levels of the government, needs to be stopped immediately!!!!

There is so much BS out there, how can we ever know what's true or not?

Where are these jobs that everyone in government is talking about getting us?

The only site that I found that actually has helped anyone in this one.

http://bartleygardenspublishingbooks.com...

They are selling a book called, Welcome to being on the Right Track for a Railroad Conductor Career...

My youngest son bought the book and was able to get a career started in less than two weeks, his starting salary is $45,000 a year they already told him that he can go up to as much as 85,000...

The retired railroader that wrote this book knew what he was talking about...

If anyone out there is interested as I said, go to;

http://bartleygardenspublishingbooks.com....

Finally someone was putting something out there and have some merit to it...

go USA....

This corruption, at all levels of the government, needs to be stopped immediately!!!!

There is so much BS out there, how can we ever know what's true or not?

Where are these jobs that everyone in government is talking about getting us?

The only site that I found that actually has helped anyone in this one.

http://bartleygardenspublishingbooks.com...

They are selling a book called, Welcome to being on the Right Track for a Railroad Conductor Career...

My youngest son bought the book and was able to get a career started in less than two weeks, his starting salary is $45,000 a year they already told him that he can go up to as much as 85,000...

The retired railroader that wrote this book knew what he was talking about...

If anyone out there is interested as I said, go to;

http://bartleygardenspublishingbooks.com....

Finally someone was putting something out there and have some merit to it...

go USA....

All I know is that when he dies they can give him an enema and bury him in a shoe box!!! The good ol' boys aren't going to give him any type of punishment-just incase they get caught too!!! Are you hearing what we are saying you freekin Washington crooks? The people need to start protesting stronger to get these greedy jerks out of government!

Good ruling, he had plenty of time to prepare !

I hope he resigns, if not, then his constituents that re-elected him get what they deserve.

This corruption, at all levels of the government, needs to be stopped immediately!!!!

There is so much BS out there, how can we ever know what's true or not?

Where are these jobs that everyone in government is talking about getting us?

The only site that I found that actually has helped anyone in this one.

http://bartleygardenspublishingbooks.com...

They are selling a book called, Welcome to being on the Right Track for a Railroad Conductor Career...

My youngest son bought the book and was able to get a career started in less than two weeks, his starting salary is $45,000 a year they already told him that he can go up to as much as 85,000...

The retired railroader that wrote this book knew what he was talking about...

If anyone out there is interested as I said, go to;

http://bartleygardenspublishingbooks.com....

Finally someone was putting something out there and have some merit to it...

go USA....

I was going to recommend that the committee hire a nun to give him 3 whacks across the knuckles but a house vote of displeasure will be much more sever. So, take that Rangel and do let it happen again.

Congressional Black (Crook) Caucus Member conviction #1 , Maxine Waters you got next..slowly cleaning the swamp? lmao

would the 3 morons that voted for alan at 1.121 (one could be him-self) please identify them-selves! i would like to notate who could be that DUMB!

The foxes are watching the chickens, and the chickens keep electing the thieves.

Congress will "do nothing" but slap Charlie on the hand. Crooks, all Crooks!

How dumb is the American Voter!!!!! to KEEP ELECTING THE THIEVES!

Another slap on the hand for a leftist, and the same idiots who reelected him this year will do so again in 2. They say the tea party are crooks but don't have to look far from their own to find the criminals they want to ignore. Tea baggers or tea bags? I would rather be a bagger and throw the bad bags overboard.

Why the hell did it take them so long to get here? Talk about a worthless institution! God help this country!

"this administration in particular" is ignorant rhetorical babble.

That said, I believe, and I think most of the country would agree with me, that politicians found in violation of ethics rules or any other deliberate misconduct should be summarily dismissed, and banned from politics. Furthermore, once they have been canned, they should be liable for civil and criminal prosecution. And I mean that for both sides of the room. The slap on the wrist Wrangle, and his predisors will/did get is a joke. If that were all the punishment I could expect, I can't see why I wouldn't sell out my constituants in a second (except that I'm pathologically honest).

So what now 10 minutes in timeout?

Why isn't he being charged criminally? How is that this case isn't being carried forward by the Justice Department? The potential discipline the Congress is contemplating, sounds more like the discipline you'd receive for a violation in your Bridge Club.

It seems our government is on a mission to demonstrate to the world how ridiculous we are, it's utterly embarrassing to all of us.

What did the White House have to do with this case, which started when Bush was in office?

Bud...I agree...I am hoping that will happen, but you have to wonder why the AG has not already filed the case. I would think the congressional action would influence that and provide some of the investigative proof. This abuse started long before Obama or Bush and at this time should not be hooked to either of them. You also have to wonder why congress took so long to act. They accepted this stuff for yrs and yrs which only proves once again that they are not a good watchdog on anything, especially anything that involves its own members...

grunt,

The fact is that Rangel is being charges with violations of ethics.

If an average American would have defrauded the poor by not paying their fair share of taxes, they would be looking at Federal Prosecution and jail.

Next thing you know they will be getting away with drunk driving and vehicular homicide.

We really need a law that says that if a Congressman is accused of a crime, than the FBI or local law enforcement should be the ones investigating and his but goes to see Bubba in jail, just like the rest of us.

NO KINGS and Queens in American Government!

Grunt is a major TROLL!!!! Please do not feed.

MOS...

"...getting away with drunk driving and vehicular homicide." You must have forgotten the "Lion of the Senate"...Ted Kennedy.

Oh no, tony. He was the epitome of the Eastern corruption that infects our government and our society. I can not understand why the name Kennedy is not spoken is shame, let alone a magic name that gets one voted into office.

The internet is available out East, why don't people out there investigate their hero's? Perhaps the Mountain States and West are more in line with in-dependant thought?

I give great credit to John Kennedy in his battle for Civil Rights, but the rest of the family should be judged on what they did, not on their last name.

I agree with replytoj, term limits for ALL members of congress are sadly overdue. Yes, Rangel is a prime example of this misuse of public funds and trust. He's a textbook example of how the corruption develops and ultimately consumes the man. And like all those who have gone before him who've indulged in shady, if not downright criminal, acts he also believes himself to be above the law. As far as getting an attorney -- if one of us commoners walked into a courtroom and told the judge we couldn't afford one, the court would appoint one on the spot. Is Charlie too good for this? It doesn't matter whether he's a Dem or a Repub, it only matters that he's betrayed himself as a sleaze ball.

Kennedy got away with it...he should have been prosecuted just like the rest of us common folk would have been. It's a sad commentary on our society that these thugs in Congress get away with what they do. Hopefully the citizens of this great country are awakening to the fact that these career politicians do not have the country's best interest at heart. They are in it for themselves and to hell with their constituents.

From the article - "Chisam, responding to a question, said he does not believe Rangel's conduct was corrupt, but rather, that the 80-year-old congressman was "overzealous ... and sloppy in his personal finances."

LOLOLOLOLOL - Bernie Madoff and Rangle. Two individuals who were just a little "Sloppy" with their personal finances. You just could not make this stuff up! Throw this crook in the same Cell with Madoff!!!

Oh, and Greg - The reason he's been allowed to get away with this stuff is primarily because he IS a Black Politician. In other words, preferential treatment because of his Race. This is the proper Race Card to play in this crime.

Mos...

You are correct.....the Kennedys are viewed as near deities in New England....while one had swam away from a young girl drowning inside his car and tried to cover it up and the other had more spurious women's names in his little black book than can be found in a city pimp's back pocket. "Camalot" as the worshippers call it, was more like "Copulatalot".

And New Englanders get teary-eyed remembering these two.

yes, ethical mindset and behavior are of paramount importance. But, regarding term limits (and I know this is not the focus of the article and blog), who's to say 12 years is the limit for a member of Congress? how about 4? or 6? or 8? or 2? I can see this 'argument' going on for quite some time.

Speaker Pelosi established the OCE as an independent, non-partisan entity charged with reviewing allegations of ethics violations by House Members. It has been relatively successful during its short tenure, investigating 60 cases and referring a dozen to the House Ethics committee.

Perhaps not surprisingly in the self-serving world of Capitol Hill, some of those on the receiving end of the OCE's investigation now want to dismantle the body. Others, though unscathed by the OCE's work, decided early on to oppose its very creation.

Office of Congressional Ethics

Half A Dozen Reps Being Investigated For Use Of Travel Funds

Ryan J. Reilly | September 3, 2010, 11:11AM

Six members of the House of Representatives are being questioned by congressional investigators over the possibility they kept the remainder of the per diem payments they receive when traveling overseas on official trips.

Reps. G.K. Butterfield (D-N.C.); Alcee Hastings (D-Fla.); Joe Wilson (R-S.C.); Solomon Ortiz, (D-Texas); Robert Aderholt, (R-Ala.); and Former Rep. Mark Souder, (R-Ind.) have all been contacted by the OCE. The probe of Souder's spending was dropped when he retired from the House in May, since the ethics committee only has authority over current members of Congress. Reps. G.K. Butterfield and Joe Wilson (R-SC) are white...so much for the "only black Congressemn are investigated."

I ran out of edit time. Continuation of post #3.12

Former Rep. Mark Souder, (R-Ind.) is lilly white

Robert Aderholt, (R-Ala.) is white! white!! white!!!

Solomon Ortiz, (D-Texas) is Latino.

Greg4422 - do still claim "only black Congressemn are investigated."

I also think that any punishment that the "comitee" has decided hasn't really made an impact. They should cut retirement benefits for these politicians. They basically do whatever crazy moves they want and then retire in bliss anyway.

Rangel should be expelled in my honest opinion. I feel it is far overdue to limit politicians in their service if you can call it service to the American people to lie and cheat in attempts to get re-elected. What message did we send to American children when Clinton was allowed to walk away scott free after telling lies while under oath in our nations highest court? The message was that its OK to Lie unless you get caught. What is becoming of our once great nation when its acceptable to lie?

Its time the American people stand up and remove the benifits from politicians. Once voted out of office they should return to society and make their own way in this world not have a free ride retirement plan of any type just like the rest of America.

Send a message to politicians that says we the people have had enough.

You must have forgotten the "Lion of the Senate"...Ted Kennedy.

That's when he wasn't waking up his NEPHEW to go drinking (who the HECK does that?!?) and then figuring out how to get said nephew off on a rape charge. The whole thing wouldn't have happened if he'd just let the kid sleep. What, he couldn't find guys his own age to play with?

Tony -

And New Englanders get teary-eyed remembering these two.

FYI - that is a HUGE over-generalization! I'm a New England farm hick and DESPISED the Kennedy's! It again was an example of lifetime politicians that were born and bred for the political spotlight LITERALLY getting away with murder.

Term Limits

No "Career Politicians"

Get people who give a damn into the government and let's turn this country around!

NJMOM: well thanks for making my day; nice to know I'm not the only one who detests the kennedys!

Ever notice how some "mick-on-the-make" type like them accumulates HUGE amts. of $ (questionably) & then apparently gets either the quilts or the hubris of thinking that they KNOW what is good for the peons of this country & attempts to leglislate it "for the good of the masses."

THAT'S WHY I HATE THE KENNEDYS & ALL OTHERS LIKE THEM.

P.S. Nice I lived long enough to say that publicly & not be hunted down by the pitchfork/burning crowds who used to believe they WERE God!

Just another liberal politician who thinks the govmt needs more money as long as it's not his own.

Just leave out the word "liberal," and you'll be spot on! When it comes to spending our money, there is no difference between a liberal and a conservative politician. They will both waste it as quickly as possible.

These party hacks will never admit the truth

Elitist they all seem to be!!!! When they change it is not clear, be 2 yrs or 12. But we should fire them at the first elitist statement they make!!!

What he acknowledged was that he did not fill out a tax form, There was no income
There were no taxes owed, So he blew off the paperwork, BIG CRIME, LOL

During the meantime this farce by the GOP has cost the American taxpayers $5 million
in lawyer fee's and almost $7 million for investigations into Rangel's "misconduct"

And he should pay for it out of his own money all of it.

So did half the GOP candidates in the last election.

Grunt,.. did they get caught? Are you just blathering again? Whom are you specifically speaking about? Stop whinning, any politican that gets rich on a government salary is a frickin crook and needs to go to jail.

Bo...Rangle had NO INCOME? Yeah, right.

AND there were/are an equal number of Republicans and Democrats who are investigating him.

Provide facts, grunt. Until you do, you are just talking out of your A$$...

to StormerF: Get caught? GET CAUGHT????? now I'm flaming MAD.

Getting caught is completely, utterly, and in every way NOT the point. Ethics and getting caught don't even belong in the same ballpark, let alone the same blog thread.

The point of ethics is that is who you are. how you conduct yourself and your business.

I'm sad that Rangel, and all the others chose and choose to behave in unethical ways. I'm sad that businesses chose and choose to behave in unethical ways. I'm sadder than sad that we jump in the slime with them to point fingers and rant and rage against 'the other guy.' We are admonished against this behavior in the New Testament portion of the Biblical Library. I forget the citation; hope someone can help me out with that.

ok. I'm calmed down now, and apologize for ranting and raging against the notion of 'getting caught.'

Bo,

You are just making this up. READ the article. It states:

but acknowledged shortchanging the Internal Revenue Service on his own tax bill.

Shortchanging the IRS! Not didn't submit a form. Please, do you really think we are as gullable as you apparently are? I really find it fruitless when blind followers from either side stand up arguements in defense of their "sides" people, even though they are being prosecuted, the evidence clearly warrants the prosecution, and the culprit, in this case Rangel is stealing and hurting you. How can you defend this guy? It is beyond common sense.

So he blew off the paperwork, BIG CRIME, LOL

As a matter of fact, it literally IS a federal crime if you don't file a tax return when required to do so. Even if you owe and can't pay, you had better file and then work out a payment plan with them.

One thing Bo had right... this is a ridiculous waste of taxpayers money... Why should it cost $7million (is that even accurate? Bo threw it out there in his post above) to bring ethics violation charges against someone?? He acted Un-ethically. As a political leader, he needed to step down (or be pushed out) on behalf of the moral fiber of this country. Not only do politicians need to have the same laws, ethics and morals as the "rest" of us, they should be held to a HIGHER level! They are acting on our BEHALF!! Why would someone with this many 'problems' be allowed to be the voice of his community??

seems to me the moderator is biased against the gop... there is no doubt about it.
these absurd ramblings of a fish named grunt "half the republicans elected are tax cheats"...
okay you have got to be kidding! 2012 can't get here soon enough! Good bye dems and crooks... and I am an independent voter all the way...

Grunt, who?

Wow Bo.......but when the mortgage was paid from that rental income and the property has equity and good ol charlies sells the asset.....that's Taxable......

Double standards for you too Huh?

you are and idiot the GOP has nothing to do with this this guy thinks he is above the law and he needs to be punished for it if that had ben you are me they would throw the book at us you have to be the worse kind of liberal.

Bo - this investigation was started by a Democratically controlled House...this is not a Republican issue. The committee is 50% Dem/Rep. I agree that partisan witch hunts have been done in the past (by both parties), but this isn't a partisan witch hunt...it's an alleged violation of specific House rules. (and the same goes for the Maxine Waters ethics trial that will be coming up soon)

Bo, Rent Stabilization was supposed to be for the poor who would have been thrown out into the street due to the costs of housing going up. NOT FOR RICH crooks who pass on cheap rent to "friends".

One more example of rich people NOT paying what they should at the expense of the poor. WHERE IS THE DEMOCRATIC OUTRAGE!!! How can anyone just keep excusing thefts and crimes.

What is wrong with you people on the East Coast? Too much lead in the paint when you were growing up?

Mortgage?? Equity?? It was a rental that Rangel sublet, HE DID NOT OWN IT

He sublet an apartment for the exact amount he rented it for, No income at all

Bo, the point is, the price was reduced so that a poor person could live there, not a rich Congressman. When he moved out, the place should have gone to a poor person to live.

Where is your outrage over a rich man (screw the party) stealing from the poor. This is not some oversight in the Tax Code, this was corruption at its worst. If I was a poor person in Harlem trying to find a place to live, I could not find one because of rich crooks (subletting) their low cost apartments to their friends.

To heck with the tax dodging Bo, this guy screwed over the poor that he was hired to protect. Why are you not mad about it?

MOS why are you asking why Bo isn't mad, it's simple Bo is a party lap dog being led by the leash.

Bo = Shill = progressive supporter (not to be confused with an athletic supporter, but I can see how one could get that mixed up :)

Bo you just ask for it every time you post. You are so hypnotized that you can't see you're getting bent over by this guy, you just seem to be saying:

"Thank you, can I have another!"

Bo-

How do you explain Rangle have FOUR rent control apartments in his name (the sates you can only have ONE and it must be your primary address. And what do you all the money he takes in from his very high dollar, resort rental property in the Dominican Republic he so conveniently forgot to mention year after year on his taxes?

This is why the disgusting hypocritical libs are being voted out faster than they can be indicted. You don't care. You would vote for this trash bag, even if his GOP opponent was a perfect candidate just because. At least the Tea Party will vote out GOP trash. You libs just keep recycling it.

Heeeee did knot head.

Hey Bo, I know you don't like to read, and this is coming from Fox News (the only media that reports the TRUTH), but here ya go!

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2010/11/14/rangel-used-pac-money-legal-defense/

This charge is new! Seems Charlie likes it when WE pay for his legal defense - he can't seem to pay his own bills with his own money.

And this is only what they've FOUND. Just think of everything he's done that he isn't being charged for...

He should be automatically thrown out of office and locked up; but let's face it if he was a conservative republican the liberals would scream for him to step down and be locked up; first he is african-american and he is a liberal two combinations that excuses him of doing anything wrong because if he would be thrown out it he would say because he is african-american and he would play the racism card, and forget that he committed crimes!

Uhhhhhh, Bo knows everything but the law. Now Bo we are not talking "street" law. This is federal law. Sometimes you are not allowed to make things up as you go along. His status as a member of a special group has allowed him to fly under the radar for far to long. His payment of back taxes and forced resignation would be a legitimate stimulus package for America.

We're not talking law at all, We are talking ethics,,,,,,,,Rangel broke NO laws and has not been accused of breaking any, This is an ethics panel, Is it unethical to not fill out a rental income form for the IRS when in fact there was no actual income, Plain and simple

Loved the FOX fake link,,,,,,,,,,Funny how they hear about so many things that in the end are NOT true, LOL

Bo if you really think he broke no law....try to do the same thing and stay out of jail. Tax fraud is tax fraud. How exactly did Rangel become so wealthy?

Bo, He broke laws,ie: tax code laws that if broken by any non politician would have resulted in seizure of assets, Levys against salaries and prosecution for income tax evasion.

On the Dominican properties he had the tenants pay his mortgage instead of paying him rent so he could avoid reporting any income on the properties , This was a violation of tax codes(laws) and this is just the tip of the iceberg.

Bo- he also broke the NY laws with FOUR rent control apartments. The law states you can only have ONE and it must be your primary residence!To qualify for rent control, a tenant must have been living continuously in an apartment since July 1, 1971. When vacant, the unit becomes rent stabilized, except in buildings with less than six units, where it is usually removed from the program. In some cases, a tenant living in a one- or two-family home may qualify for rent control if the tenant has lived there since 1953, however, once the apartment or home has been vacated, the home or apartment (if in a two-family) is deregulated.

The qualifications for rent stabilization have been changed over the years, to curb perceived abuses which allowed the wealthy to enjoy rent increase protection intended for the working class. If the stabilized rent is under $2,000 then income does not affect the rent stabilized status of the apartment. A tenant has to use the stabilized apartment as their primary residence in order for the apartment to remain under rent stabilization.

Bo-1925019 Comment collapsed by the community
Uhhhhh,,,,Wouldn't he actually have to commit a crime first?

Tax evasion is a crime, except maybe in Harlem. I don't care what political party a criminal is from. They should all be jailed. The only one's who seem to think otherwise are from high crime areas who think crime in normal business.

Maxine Waters

James, when are you going to grow up? You would have to take 50 Democrats with them so it is not going to happen,so quit blattering about it.

James,

Hilary Clinton voted for action...John KErry voted for it before he voted against it - so he should only be half culpable. Hoe many other libbies were for the invasion (and subsequent atrocities)?

Speaking of which, why is GITMO still open?

Hey Jesse" James" you old gun slinger. We put Saddam in power and we took him out of power. Consider it a demotion. I think Bush did a fine job of reorganizing the overseas office.

I kinda like James's idea on this one. Not because it's at all sane or logical, but because if we have to lock up everyone responsible for the Iraq vote as war criminals, look at the clean sweep we get to do of Congress! That would be even better than the results of Nov 2's election! How Nancy can really "clean the swamp"...

Suzy-2005071. #8.8

Twisted logic at its finest. And strangely enough, if it meant getting the swamp drained in one swoop, let's do it! Reid and Pelosi should be among the first to go.

A chance for the GOP to waste more millions of taxpayers money to investigate nothing

I can't quite figure out what's unfair here. His lawyer walked in August if I read the article right. So that gave him September, October and half of November to find new counsel (probably even a few days in August but I'll give him a pass on those). And lets don't forget, HE IS A LAWYER! So he knew the hearing was starting on 11/15, he's had plenty of TIME to find new representation, but it works better to not do so and try and delay the proceedings even longer. Nice try. Good job by the ethics committee for deciding to proceed anyway.

Bo, Are you capable of any coherent thoughts, can you read and retain information?

The FACT is that CONGRESS when they started this action against Rangel had a DEMOCRAT majority, but the stench from Rangels seat got to be too much even for the MAJORITY Democrats that started this action. Your Knee jerk reaction in trying to blame the Repubs indicates that you have swilled too much liberal koolaide and it has addled your brains (That means your brains are scrambled like an egg). Not much to investigate, the TRUTH is all out in the open in plain sight and again it was the DEMOCRATS that STARTED this investigation and action against this sleazeball politician.

Go grow up.

colonial....

"Growing up" is not on his agenda.

Don't forget, if he does not have money, he can either go down to the local public defenders office. like the rest of us. Or, maybe he could sell some of his vacation properties he forgot to report about.

Richard,

The hell of it is that he won't get anything but a slap on the wrist. Like you said, "Bad Dog, No biscuit for you!"

Isn't that what happens when the Washington crooks get to be "Judged By Their Peers"; you know, Crooks being judged by fellow Crooks. How can anyone expect a different outcome? Unfortunately, the problem is that WE are the only ones that can protect ourselves from the crooks Congress and Washington..

We know the ones that we voted for in the last election were so crooked that they have to "screw their socks on in the morning," but we continue to re-elect the worthless SOBs. Lets see, Senator Byrd ( the king of pork) was in elected service from 1946 until his death in 2010, that's 64 years! Good ol' Charlie Rangle has been in office for 40 of his 80 years and John Murtha was in office from 1974 to 2010 - (36 Years). What do you expect from Career Politicians? Honesty, Integrity, or just a lot of hot air, election year promises, and more deals with lobbyist to help fill their campaign coffers?

Its like they said in L'il Abner about Senator Jack S. Phogbound. He was the crooked and corrupt senator from Dogpatch that, when he wasn't campaigning in Dogpatch, he was off on a Junket at Congresses expense or having dinner with Playboy models. The remark they always made about him was "Thar's no Jack S. like OUR Jack S.!" But they, like we, just kept on re-electing him. If we want to blame someone for what now exists in Congress, point the finger into the mirror first.

Its like Pogo said many years ago:

"We has met the enemy, and he is US!"

Rangel is rich?? He cannot even afford a lawyer, LOL

I believe the response is, he cannot even afford a lawyer because it would come out of his pocket.

Bo-1925019

Rangel is rich?? He cannot even afford a lawyer, LOL

Good old Bo, you can always count on him for an uninformed remark; The man is WEALTHY, he has money he has extorted and stolen from lobbyists and illegal activities for years, how do you think he affords not one but FOUR rent controlled apartments in NYC, How do you think he can afford a resort in the Domenican Republic that he rents out for a sunstantial amount, how do you think he ends up OWING several million to the IRS.

"Not rich", You are really deluded aren't you. Do your keepers know you are playing on the computer?

Rangel also said that's he's already spent $2 million on lawyer's bills....not rich ???

He has at least 4 apartments and a vacation villa in the Dominican Republic....he needs to get Presdient Obama to play ball and pass those "Bush tax cuts" for every American taxpayer because of the fact that he lives in New York....and in New York, the rent is too DAMN!!! high.

HE should be, any of us would be....why not him?

Hey Nancy how is that "swamp draining" going, better put your hip boots on, looks like the "Waters" rising, Its time to "Rangel" some gaters!

This isn't a criminal case, it isn't even a "trial" (they used to be called "hearings" before all the goody two shoes took over), its about congressional "ethics violations" not crimes. Both sides of the aisle have their fair share of these violators. This is a knife that cuts both ways, but what a waste of time and money when what we need are jobs. I hope congress doesn't engage in an endless bi-partisan witch hunt.

Rangel Admits $75000 In Unreported Income.. This from the that POS Conservative new media FO... wait...it's from huffingtonpost.com..

On another note: --Rep. Charles Rangel admits he messed up taxesadmitted today that he owes about $5000 in federal taxes.

Yeah, this guys a charm...

Ok... tell all the Common folk who ended up in prison and had their businesses and property taken from them by the IRS...

What he did is a crime.. he just did not get prosecuted.. Maybe he didn't know the rules.. you know, because he is only the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.

Right, he did not get charged... so, you have nothing better to do with your time than to defend him... Pro Bono? ha ha ha...

Let the Bush, Cheney thing go already....Congress voted to go to war....BOTH parties. The decision was based on information given to the white house from multiple intelligence services...What would you have done given the same information that the Bush team had presented to them and the fact that sadam hussein had kicked the inspectors out of his country, and the fact that he had used chemical agents on his own people ?

James: Because they would have to charge democratically "controlled" congress that voted to go to war. Anymore stupid questions James?

Steve: ....Congress voted to go to war....BOTH parties, Your right

Decisions are based on facts at the time the decision is made. Reliable information had it that Hussein had weapons of mass destruction. It is known and evidence proved that he had used toxic gas on people before. Hussien was amply warned of the consciences. Good riddance. At least Bush had balls and did not cut and run.

Isn't it strange how liberals will defend the biggest POS as long as its a democrat and a libtard. Why are you making excuses for this crook James? Did you vote for him and now you feel stupid and want to cover up your error? Rangel IS a SLIMEBALL, He committed "ethical offenses" that would be called a CRIME if he wasn't a congressman, He should be prosecuted in a court of law and sent to jail. What's sad is YOU trying to defend him and make light of his cheating and stealing from the American Taxpayers.

This is a knife that cuts both ways, but what a waste of time and money when what we need are jobs.

Hey, it's providing his lawyers and all the people that work in their law offices with jobs!

Yum, you guys are making me hungry. Southern cooking is mighty tasty.

Just a bit racist don'tcha think?

The very reason the Republicans will fail to do in the USA what they accomplished in China

I don't know about racist, I like Southern Cooking and I am a "white boy".

Ok, lets see about China and the Republicans....we have a huge trading partner that is rapidly moved out of Third Word Status and is now a rich a prosperous nation. As China becomes more prosperous, their government will become more and more democratic. Remember, Communists and Democratic systems are supposed to represent the PEOPLE.

Trading parners are much less likely to go to war with one another, so now that China has an internal market and can sell to itself, we can force their currency to rise on the World Market or devalue the dollar so that we are forced to buy products made at home.

Lots cheaper to have good relations with China, than a nuclear war. Thank you Richard Nixon.

I always thought what distinguished China was it had capitalism without democracy. I doubt that they will abandon the model that is working so well for them.

China brushed off the other countries at the G20 summit that requested China to stop keeping their currency low. The look on President Hu's face was one of disdain.

Recall how "offended" harry reid was when Ms. Angle asked how he became rich on a goverment income----

James-316346

The congressman will get his pay for life as a congressman with more than two terms. Compared to our family income he IS rich. He makes 5 times what my wife and I bring in each year. You are a mindless liberal/progressive/socialist parroting all the propaganda that is produced by the media.

James...Are you related to Rangle? Are you on his payroll?

James, please the guys a crook. Plain and simple.

James,

Where did he get the 2 million for legals fees? Charlie has tons Of $$ stuffed in his mattress somewhere in the Caribbean.

I have a (possibly) more interesting question: why, after being paid 2 million dollars, did his legal counsel bail on him? That smells fishy in and of itself.

To emphasise my point let's say they got paid 1 million a piece. That is not a trivial amount of money by (almost) anyone's standards. You don't just bail on your client after they pay you that much money. Not without a VERY good reason. One that you don't discuss openly.

man...you dont actually believe anything that Rangel says do you?? This character has twenty excuses and phony explanations for everything he says. That was just his last best hope of stalling and putting reality off a little more...

andyland66

Yeh..What about those guys..Are they immune

Im just happy James was collapsed.

".....Again, I don't think he thought he was doing anything wrong."

I have some oceanfront property in Arizona. Cheap. Interested?

You are the perfect example of why the Democratic Party is a pathetic, enabling, chicken-hearted collection of losers.

You cant look at him and tell he is guilty lmao,all of the idiots in Wa@!$%#on are guilty of something major except one,Ron Paul lol.

Spoken like a true defense attorney....pathetic....I'm sure you'd be in the front of the line to collect a 2 million dollar retainer just to drop him when he couldn't come up w/ another 2 million to go in front of the ethics committee....that in itself is an oxymoron....ethic committee in Washington, DC...Show me an honest lawyer and I'll show you an honest politician....

Skillife, just shut up.

80 years old and made some mistakes??? BS!!! These guys don't make mistakes. . . . they break the rules right up to the line then as they are caught claim that all of their thievery and sleezebag dealings are someone else's fault! That's why many of them are guests in our prisons. The standard quote "I am innocent and welcome the chance to prove it", then when the verdict is in they continue to blame others for it. i.e; "I didn't have proper defense. . . . my lawyers quit yesterday". Guess why they quit. He didn't pay them.

This corruption, at all levels of the government, needs to be stopped immediately!!!!

There is so much BS out there, how can we ever know what's true or not?

Where are these jobs that everyone in government is talking about getting us?

The only site that I found that actually has helped anyone in this one.

http://bartleygardenspublishingbooks.com...

They are selling a book called, Welcome to being on the Right Track for a Railroad Conductor Career...

My youngest son bought the book and was able to get a career started in less than two weeks, his starting salary is $45,000 a year they already told him that he can go up to as much as 85,000...

The retired railroader that wrote this book knew what he was talking about...

If anyone out there is interested as I said, go to;

http://bartleygardenspublishingbooks.com....

Finally someone was putting something out there and have some merit to it...

go USA....

Hey all the people in government do it. Are we going to fire everyone?

Did this p.o.s. get re-elected??

The people in Harlem can't deliver a better representative for them??

It is time to educate people about why the laws and regulations are in place.

And somebody earlier said "the tea party ran tax cheats" but provided no evidence. Is this true??

As for the Democrats, the effing demo in charge hired a tax cheat to run the Treasury Department. So why wouldn't Rangel think he could get away with it???

If I did what he did, my ass would be sitting in the pokey right now!!!