Posted on 09/09/2008 7:11:20 PM PDT by Red Steel
As House GOP leaders called for his removal from the powerful chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee, Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.) announced yesterday that he will repay "several thousand dollars" in back federal, state and local taxes owed on unreported income from a Dominican Republic vacation property.
The Harlem Democrat will file amended federal, state and local tax returns to reflect $75,000 in income from the beachfront villa that he previously failed to list on tax and congressional financial disclosure forms, said his lawyer Lanny Davis.
At a news conference today, Rangel planned to release a letter he sent to Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) explaining the Punta Cana resort deal and another asking the House ethics committee to add the matter to a burgeoning inquiry. The committee is already examining the congressman's rental of several New York apartments at below-market rates and his fundraising entreaties to corporations and foundations on behalf of an academic center that bears his name, his attorney said.
Pelosi yesterday also heard from nine House Republican leaders, who demanded that she remove Rangel from the chairmanship.
In their letter, the GOP leaders sought to tie Rangel's troubles to their larger political critique of the Democratic-controlled Congress as failing to take action against high gasoline prices and a slumping economy.
"Given Chairman Rangel's continuing ethical lapses, he cannot effectively carry out his duties as chairman," wrote the Republicans, led by House Minority Leader John A. Boehner (R-Ohio). "Thus, in order to remove one obstacle to this Democratic Congress actually addressing and solving working families' concerns, you, as the Speaker of the House, must insist that Rep. Rangel step down from his Ways and Means Committee chairmanship pending an investigation of his ethical lapses."
Davis, a former special counsel to President Bill Clinton
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
yes!
the dems pushed the crooked pubies out.
This is what happens when you preach that ONLY Republicans should pay taxes. Choke on it Rangel!
gee, Nancy is hearing from her Republican colleages? Nancy has said that the Republican party has a culture of corruption, hinting that good Democrats never have any legal or ethical problems.
Chairman of tax writing committee cheats on his taxes, onws 4 properties allotted to poor people. What’s wrong with that, he knows what he can get a way with.
Corruption and crooks in the 9% Congress is breaking all records.
Let not his color allow him to keep his position.
Chairmanship my A@@. How about go to jail?
Yeah, right. Rangel will go to jail right after the crooked Democrat with the expensive freezer - William Jefferson.
Democrats don’t step down. They step on.
Culture of Corruption.
If this were one of us regular folks we’d have to not only pay the taxes but fines and interest. But hell, when you’re in our government you can get away with anything.
Hey Nancy, wasn’t this suppose to be the most ethical Congress?
I’m sending a fax to Boehner’s office giving him my support and suggesting that Pubbies consider holding up discussion on any bill until Rangel idiot is gone. I’m still steamed over his response to a fax I sent Rangel before last year about spending issues and he sent me a fax back saying that I was not one of his constituents and therefore he could not consider my request. BS - where does he think the money he spends comes from if not from a lot of his “non-constituents”. Granny’s steamed!
good for you!
Was it not the case that Tom Delay had to step down as soon as he was under investigation? I really don’t remember all the dynamics of his case. (that to this day has not gone to trail, thanks Ronnie Piss Ant Earle).
Prosecute the crooked Rat bum.
Wexler cheated the Tax man...and violated the residency law for Florida Congress Critters...
Has he been charged, or issued a new tax bill for Maryland?
Has he purchased a family residence in Florida?
Are there ANY Democrats one could investigate and NOT find corruption, malfeasance in office, sexual perversion, cheating the tax man, screwing the staff, cheating the public with excessive and phony expense claims, misuse of office or hired staff, etc, etc.......?
I doubt it...
To hear these Congress Critters constantly referring to each other as my “Honorable” colleague — causes me to wretch.
They all respond that way.
He raises our taxes while forgetting to pay his. No thanks.
In addition to paying the taxes, the fines and interest, we, the “little people,” would also be facing prison.
Rangel is above the law, apparently. Disgusting.
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