Rangel Investigation Expanded By House Ethics Panel

WASHINGTON — The House ethics committee is expanding an investigation of Rep. Charles Rangel, chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee. The ethics panel issued a statement Tuesday saying it had voted to expand an already far-ranging probe into the New York Democrat to examine whether he protected an oil drilling company from a big tax bill when the head of that company pledged a $1 million donation to a college center named after the congressman.

The move means the Rangel inquiry will likely stretch well past early January, when House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., had previously said she expected the matter to be resolved.

Republicans have called for Rangel to step down from his chairmanship of the powerful Ways and Means panel during the investigation. The expanding investigation means the ethics cloud hanging over Rangel is likely to follow him and Democratic leaders into the next Congress as they seek to pass major stimulus legislation and buoy the sinking economy.

The committee will now investigate contributions or pledges of money made to the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at the City College of New York, particularly one made by Eugene M. Isenberg, CEO of Nabors Industries, Ltd.

Rangel, 78, reportedly helped preserve a tax loophole that saved the company tens of millions of dollars a year.

The congressman, who has been in office for 40 years, maintains he has done nothing improper, and he says he has always opposed the kind of change to tax law that would have cost Nabors dearly.

The ethics committee said it was expanding the probe after Rangel asked them to do so.

The committee has already been probing Rangel's failure to pay taxes on about $75,000 in rental income from a beach house he owns in the Dominican Republic. They are also eyeing his use of three rent-stabilized apartments in Harlem, including one for a campaign office. Also under scrutiny are letters Rangel wrote on congressional stationery looking to drum up donors for the college center.

College officials have refused to say who donated to the Rangel center, citing the ongoing investigation.

Rangel has insisted that whatever he did wrong, they were honest mistakes, not intentional deceptions.

Comments

[bayside]

I propose to the republicans we will clean up our party if you clean up yours, and I dont mean by kangrooo court, or hearsay ,real corruption..Take responsibility for your actions and we take responsibility for ours..

[Edzero]

Some steps in the right direction

l. Term limits for all political positions.
2. Public financing of elections
3. An informed and engaged citizenry
4. Campaigns that address issues and the candidates character track record
5. Candidates commitment to the people's concerns not solely the party's

Add your points to the list.

[Razinbran]

They need to get rid of this guy yesterday. He's been corrupt for years. Directing congress's economic policy and getting corporate money when he was running unopposed. With Blago's antics, it's time to purge politics of corruption.

[vippy]

Rangel, you are old, corrupt and it is time to hang it up. You are a stain on the DEMs. Resign!
I had better not see two types of laws, one for the politicians and one for us, the people!

[HallStyle]

Charlie, if you have been tainted by the stains of corruption the best thing for the Party is for you to step down. Look you are in the house. We have a strong majority there. Your loss want be a very big one.

http://www.hallstyle.blogspot.com

[Bramble8]

Step down .... please! Term limits for leadership positions ... ( especially if you have been there for decades...)

[HallStyle]

I agree. There should be at least a 6 term limit. For the House that would be 12years.

[shamrock1421]

BTW please don't forget...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MGT_cSi7Rs

[ran6110]

Yes, he appears to be a crook. But worse are the ones who have watched this kind of thing going
and haven't said anything or tried to stop it.

To me they are just as guilty and any of the other Washington crooks!

[duze]

Speaking of money what about the $2M Hillary Clinton got from Peter Paul, to help get her NY Senate Seat. Paul v.Clinton. L.A.Superior Court Case # BC304174. Charged with fraud, deceit, unjust enrichment, civil conspirarcy. The trial is being overseen by judge Aurello Munuz, who was appointed by Bill Clinton. See;Peterfpaul.com I can't believe Bill and Hillary turned him down for anything. It amazes me that people find it very convenient to forget just how much scandal and disgrace these two have brought to the Democratic Party. Rangel is one thing, however, everybody in Washington also knows about the Clintons. Crooks always know crooks.

[shockmagog]

Money in politics puts a taint on Democrats too. Let's try public funding of campaigns and elections, and pull politicians out of constantly shilling for the next election.

Unless, of course, we like the way things are, and we like to keep complaining about the corruption.

[partyofone]

Rangel's troubles have nothing to do with campaign finances. They have to do with personal finances, abuse of power, and using public dollars to flater his HUGE ego. Many good people are corrupted by power. Rangel has become very powerful and thinks he is above the law and Congressional ethical standards. Democrats have a lot to lose by letting Rangel slide by, again.

[apoyo]

Step down. Looks like you are having a bad day.

[mh01]

i think he's a Crook. period.

If the chairman of the tax committee can't do his taxes without cheating.....

[mec57]

I am saddened to see Rangel engaging in questionable behavior, because I have always liked him...now can we get off this nonsense of weighing how many bad Repubs there are versus Dems...power obviously corrupts, and it doesn't care about party affiliation...

[partyofone]

One thing that would help diminish the us and them poliltics in Congress, is for Democrats to show a capacity to hold their own accountable to high ethical standards by removing Rangel from his chairman ship and repremanding him. If they are serious about an new era of high ethics, they should also refuse to confirm Holder as AG and Hillary as SoS. Otherwise, its Washington partisan politics wink wink nod nod as usual.

[AlligatorShuz]

The man is 80 he has never been affective. I don't understand why the sad people in his district keep electing this ineffective man..

[partyofone]

Power and Pork.

[Yovovi]

Another unethical politican. What a shocker. Throw the bums out!

[mec57]

It is time to stop holding one party up for more ridicule than the other for political corruption...what matters is that any are doing it, and that so many have allowed to grow into the problem it is.

[watchingthings]

Yep! It''s easy to believe that it's an honest mistake when you help a company get out of paying tens of millions in taxes. On the other hand it's a huge amount to be just a mistake.