Posted on 07/26/2010 4:28:26 AM PDT by IbJensen
New York (AP) - Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel said Friday he looked forward to clearing his name next week at a meeting of the House ethics committee, which has indicated the 40-year congressional veteran will be charged with serious violations.
Speaking briefly at his Harlem office, Rangel, 80, called the two-year ethics investigation hurtful and harmful. But he said he was relieved that the matter was coming to a close and that the complaints against him would be aired publicly for the first time.
"I apologize for not being able to go further, but I hope you do get some sort of satisfaction that this thing is coming to a head," Rangel told reporters.
The secretive ethics panel did not disclose the specific violations Rangel may have committed.
But several persons with knowledge of the allegations, who are not authorized to discuss them publicly, say they are related to his use of congressional stationery to raise money for a university center bearing his name; his use of four rent-subsidized apartment units in violation of New York City law; and failure to report income as required on his annual financial disclosure forms.
Sanctions can range from a damaging committee report to censure or even expulsion by the House.
Rangel said he was pleased that the ethics panel would render a judgment before his primary election in September and before the November general election, where Democrats' control of the House may be at stake.
Asked how his ethics troubles could affect vulnerable Democrats seeking re-election, Rangel said, "Pain is pain."
He said voters in his district, whom he has served since Richard Nixon's presidency, deserve to know the truth about the allegations.
"I can say without any dispute that I won't let you down," Rangel said, addressing his constituents, and adding, "I'm in the kitchen and I'm not walking out."
Go, Chuckie, Go!
Drag this thing out all the way to November...Fight the Power!
The tip of the rapidly melting “Big Cheeze”.
BUT FIRST... he must buy off the prosecution... which is no problem because chuck has lots of money and the judges are dims... done deal.
LLS
Keep fighting, Charlie !
That old frog has been waiting for a princess to kiss his lips his entire scummy life.
Charlie Rangel is the reason why there should be term limits.
A worthy successor to Adam Clayton Powell who would invite pictures of himself playing cards and drinking rum in Bimini.
Woops....Rangel
Schmuckie2 — It would take a 20-megatonner to clear your name at this point.
Exactly. He should be in jail.
Indeed.
LLS
Uh-huh. This should be interesting.
Rangel and Obozo have done much to relegate the place of American Negroes to the back of the bus again!
Sadly true. So many of them came out in droves to vote for Obama simply because he was black, I wonder how many of them have figured out how much damage he has done to race relationships today?
I would hate to see the return of the race riots of the 50s and 60s but, IMO, that's a real possibility.
If this time the riots were put down firmly in order to leave an impression on the rioters’ minds.
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