quote:

WASHINGTON — A House investigative committee on Thursday charged New York Rep. Charles Rangel with multiple ethics violations, a blow to the former Ways and Means chairman and an election-year headache for Democrats.

The committee did not immediately specify the charges against the Democrat, who has served in the House for some 40 years and is fourth in House seniority. The announcement by a four-member panel of the House ethics committee sends the case to a House trial, where a separate eight-member panel of Republicans and Democrats will decide whether the violations can be proved by clear and convincing evidence.

The timing of the announcement ensures that it will stretch into the fall campaign, and Republicans are certain to make it an issue as they try to capture majority control of the House. Speaker Nancy Pelosi had once promised to "drain the swamp" of ethical misdeeds by lawmakers in arguing that Democrats should be in charge.

Rangel led the tax-writing Ways and Means panel until he stepped aside last March after the ethics committee criticized him in a separate case _ finding that he should have known corporate money was paying for his trips to two Caribbean conferences.

Officials said that in the current case, the committee and Rangel's attorney tried unsuccessfully to negotiate a settlement. The sources spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss private discussions. A settlement would have required Rangel to agree that he violated ethics rules.

Source

That is shocking! Charlie Rangel?

They will probably throw a real thin book at him.

Some culture of corruption for the 2010 elections.

quote:

The news that New York Democratic Rep. Charlie Rangel violated House ethics rules and could be subject to a Congressional trial -- likely in September -- has party strategists panicked at what such a spectacle might do to an already difficult election climate for their side.

"A disaster," said one New York Democratic operative when asked about the prospect of a trial detailing the charges against Rangel in the midst of the fall election campaign.

Another New York strategist described the ethical cloud surrounding Rangel as a "two-year albatross that we all wish would go away."

One House Democrat granted anonymity to speak candidly about a colleague called the potential trial timing "terrible," adding: "If it comes to a vote, Charlie will not win."

The outline of allegations against Rangel are well documented -- related to personal financial dealings that include improperly living in a rent-controlled apartment to not paying taxes on a Dominican villa -- but it's unclear what punishment the investigative subcommittee would recommend.

It could be a stern reprimand, a more formal censure or even an expulsion from the chamber. House Democrats will, almost certainly, do anything they can to avoid a full vote on whether Rangel should be removed from his seat. No formal conversations had begun on that front, according to a House Democratic leadership aide, largely because of the fact that official Washington had emptied out by the time the Ethics committee findings were made public Thursday night.

Source

My guess is that they should review all the allegations thoroughly and accept a plea of nolo contendere and fade away into retirement with the nation's gratitude for 40 good years of service to God and Country. Charlie Rangel is a wonderful human being and I hate to see him go any other way.

quote:

NEW YORK – Friends and political allies of embattled Rep. Charlie Rangel are noticeably quiet after the disclosure that the 40-year House veteran and dean of the New York congressional delegation may face serious charges from a House ethics panel.

Rangel, 80, told reporters Friday that he looked forward to a public airing of the charges next week and fully intended to fight to clear his name. But national Democrats, already nervous about the party's prospects in the November election, had little to say publicly about Rangel's plight.

It's a particularly vexing situation for New York Democrats, who know Rangel well and have benefited for years from his campaign contributions and his advocacy for the state — particularly on the powerful Ways and Means Committee, which he chaired before stepping down from the post last March.

To criticize Rangel would look politically expedient for these Democrats and could risk the ire of the Congressional Black Caucus and the many influential black activists in New York. But staying silent leaves them vulnerable to Republican charges that the party is not sufficiently tough on the ethical lapses of its members.

Source

Lets just hope this magnificent man and WWII hero and veteran with 40 glorious years of service to country in the congress, Mr. Rangel fades away like a good General such as the recent Army Generals called back & fired from the Afghanistan debacle, Generals McKiernan and McChrystal. Retire with the applause of a grateful nation.

You know what's funny?
        At 46 seconds into this video Rangel says, "This isn't the kind of questions NBC would ask."
I guess he means only a REAL news outlet asks the hard questions.

 
I'm SHOCKED I tell you, just SHOCKED, that the "self-appointed Aantares' duplicate thread watchdog" would post a duplicate thread! (well not really shocked... actually, I expect nothing less from F.Righty)!

btw: this topic was already posted, here:

http://aantares.com/eve/forums...76052334/m/527106276
- Okay - It's time for Charlie Rangel to go

but the CONs failed to answer the challenge posed therein (and that's no surprise either)!

Check the times the 2 topics were posted and you will see who posted the duplicate thread.

quote:

Originally posted by Florida Righty:
Check the times the 2 topics were posted and you will see who posted the duplicate thread.

And I am still SHOCKED ... you failed to tell the teacher about the duplicate thread!

Also: "the CONs failed to answer the challenge posed therein (and that's no surprise either)!"

Why do I suspect Mr. Charlie was a hall monitor in Junior High?

I wonder why this topic suddenly became about me?

I think that he also was melvined more than a few times...

quote:

Originally posted by Florida Righty:
I wonder why this topic suddenly became about me?

Because you have a lot in common with the SOBs you worship...

quote:

I wonder why this topic suddenly became about me?

That's what they always do, Sir Charles. They just haven't got around to complaining about how you made the topic about you.

quote:

Originally posted by Victor Laszlo: They just haven't got around to complaining about how you made the topic about you.

What a rude thing for you to say to Sir Charles Victor. I'm surprised!

It's true that Charlie has started many, many posts about Charlie Rangel. Just search Charlie and Charlie and see what you get. So I suppose that means he owns the topic and therefore isn't interested in Chango's or anyone else's.

Perhaps Chango is right and it's time for Rangel to go. I'm sick and tired of parking tickets, his people using rent-controlled apartments for offices and political junkets. Gimme some Replublican sex, drugs, and rock & roll!

Peachy

http://cagle.com/working/100724/bish.jpg

quote:

Originally posted by Avenging Peach:
Gimme some Replublican sex, drugs, and rock & roll!

You crack me up, Mz Peachy (and I sorely needed the laugh this mornin')!

quote:

Democratic Congressman Charlie Rangel was charged with multiple ethics violations. Members of Congress were stunned. They had no idea there was more than one ethic

Jay Leno

quote:

Originally posted by Karl (I-VA):

quote:

Originally posted by Avenging Peach:
Gimme some Replublican sex, drugs, and rock & roll!

You crack me up, Mz Peachy (and I sorely needed the laugh this mornin')!

Thank you Karl but you know who are the truly laughable ones don't you? Have a good day.

Peachy

Draining The Swamp

quote:

WASHINGTON -- Embattled Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel was meeting with the head of the House ethics committee and other top Democrats amid rumors he may try to work out a deal rather than face a full vetting of the charges he is now facing.

A settlement would mean Rangel must admit he committed some ethical misconduct.

House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., said Tuesday that "everyone would like for the Rangle issue to go away" and that the ethics process with Rangel is not a pleasant one.

Ethics committee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren has been preparing to launch a rare, public ethics inquiry on Thursday into alleged misdeeds by the New York Democrat.

Lofgren will chair an "adjudicatory subcommittee" that will present its case against Rangel. An investigative panel reported last week that it had found ethics violations by Rangel.

Source

Reports: Rangel Cuts Deal, Avoids Trial