Pelosi On Rangel: "I Don't Foresee" Him Losing Committee Post

The fate of Rep. Charlie Rangel as chair of the powerful Ways and Means Committee currently rests in the hands of the House Ethics Committee, which is looking into several charges of unethical behavior against the New York Democrat.

That at least is the stance of Nancy Pelosi who has been besieged by calls from GOP officials and good government groups for Rangel to be removed from his post. So far the Speaker of the House has kept her cards remarkably close to her chest, saying only that she will wait for the Ethics Committee report. But while repeating that line on Monday evening, she also said that she did not foresee Rangel stepping down.

"As you know, the particulars of Chairman Rangel's case are before the Ethics Committee now," Pelosi told a pool of reporters in New York City. "We had been assured early on that they would have their work finished by the end of this Congress, which is just a few more weeks. And I think Mr. Rangel, who is a Korean War hero, who has been a great public servant in our country, deserves the opportunity to have his case heard and resolved by the Ethics Committee. And that, as I say, is not a long way off. It's just a matter of weeks."

Would Rangel lose his post after the Ethics Committee report, Pelosi was asked. We have to wait to see "what the committee has to say," she replied, before adding: "I don't foresee that."

The remark can be interpreted as a presumption of innocence on Rangel's behalf or, for that matter, a reaffirmation that the besieged Democrat has his party's support. Surely it is welcome news for the congressman. The New York Times reported last week that Rangel helped secure a multimillion-dollar tax loophole for an oil company roughly around the time the that very same company pledged $1 million to a Rangel charity.

Rangel's problems, however, go deeper than this one incident. The Times also wrote that he had failed to pay taxes on a beachfront house he owns in the Dominican Republican. Even earlier the paper reported that the congressman was renting four apartments in Harlem for below market rates.

The drip-drip-drip of bad news has been described as a potential "death by a thousand cuts," but sources on the Hill say Rangel plans to fight to keep his post. The Ethics Committee is expected to issue its report sometime in January. As of now, he has the backing of the Democratic higher-ups.

Comments

[SammyD]

has the IRS checked for all his off-shore money? probably not

[KarateKid]

In the tradition of Adam Clayton Powell......................

[frost12]

A NARCISSISTIC SNAKE-OIL SALESMAN.

[pmharrell]

He is as crooked as they come.

[rollingdivision]

More of the congressional culture of corruption.

[frost12]

PELOSI IS BOUGHT AND PAID FOR.

[frost12]

PROVING THAT WOMEN CAN BE JUST AS CORRUPT.

[Roose]

Rangel stole the election in his congressional district for Clinton and it was swept under the rug. That alone, is enough in my opinion to force this crook to retire. But the prevailing philosophy is "he may be a crook, but he's OUR crook".

A prime example of what happens when you stay too long at the trough, that is why our elected politicians should be term limited.

[ron1000]

He won his seat from Adam Clayton Powell by accusing Powell of the same kind of shenanigans he's being accused of. I would like to see him impeached.

[iLLogicaL]

I await the day when integrity is more highly valued in politics than loyalty. I'm all for innocent until proven guilty, but if any of the allegations against this guy are proven true, he should be removed from the house entirely.

[harriettubman]

I've listened to Rangel for years. He's the career politician with no vision and believes any wrongs are rights. He should've been gone long ago. He contributes absolutely nothing to his constituents or the country. After his recent tax problems, I don't know why he didn't have the dignity to leave then. Some careerists are so self absorbed they just don't get it.

It's time for Democrats to start cleaning house of their lazy, spend thrift, do nothing politicians.

[wndrwrthg]

The House Ethics Committee is an oxymoron. Everyone knows that the House has no ethics.

[lizziekw]

Seriously. It's like the Snake Pit in there, with a few notable exceptions. If Charlie Rangel gets indicted and/or convicted of anything, he'll suffer the consequences. Removing him from his Chair at this point is premature.

[Opt1musPr1me]

Oh please. Leave Charlie alone. We've got convicted felons in the GOP who ran and almost got elected back to the senate.

[iLLogicaL]

Right, so let's sink to their level. Good plan...see you in the dirt.

[fdavidm]

I'm an avid Democrat and would NEVER in my life vote GOP but Rangel should be stripped of his Committee Post. He's an embarrassment to the Democratic Party.

[lizziekw]

Oh please. If we can tolerate Senator Lieberman's insanity and allow him to retain his chairmanship, we can certainly do the same for Congressman Rangel.

[Roose]

They should both be gone.

[Ramirez]

That's the ticket.

[escapement]

Why is Pelosi defending a crook? She needs to go right after Rangel is bounced...

[nibblybits]

She defends Murtha too. If she can save Rangel, then she owns him.

[Roose]

And Alcee Hastings and William Jefferson. Crooks all!

[ANewYear]

Birds of a feather maybe? I'd like to see her replaced too. I've had my fill of her and Reid.

[sixx]

This may explain why Rangel backed other criminals in WH and Congress.

[NYCMami]

Get him out!