Posted on 11/15/2010 1:47:44 PM PST by Sub-Driver
Rangel: 'I have no real chance of fighting back' By Jordan Fabian - 11/15/10 03:51 PM ET
Embattled Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) struck a defeated tone Monday, hours after he walked out of his own ethics trial.
Rangel reiterated his claim that his due process rights had been violated over his lack of legal representation at the trial that began Monday morning.
"I hope that my colleagues in Congress, friends, constituents and anyone paying attention will consider my statement and how the committee has been unfair to me," he said in a prepared statement. "They can do what they will with me because they have the power and I have no real chance of fighting back."
The longtime lawmaker made waves when he threatened to leave the hearing after tussling with ethics committee chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) over the absence of his legal representation.
Rangel's attorneys parted ways with him in October, and the congressman said he could not afford to hire new representation after spending almost $2 million in legal fees over the past two years.
The adjudicatory subcommittee is meeting behind closed doors Monday afternoon to determine if Rangel committed the 13 counts of House ethics violations that are alleged against him.
If he is found guilty of the violations, he could face a full House vote on his expulsion or a lesser punishment. Rangel said he is now looking past the trial.
"Now, I am going forward — not backwards — to do the job I was elected to do. That is to serve my district and to serve my country, as I have tried to do for the past 50 years," he said. "In the end, I hope that I would be judged by my entire record that determines that I have been a credit to the House and to my family, friend and supporters who have entrusted me with this honorable duty."
He probably got the beginnings of some excellent representation, but my suspicion is that they "walked" because he racked up an unpaid $2,000,000.00 bill with them.
I don't believe for a second that crooked Charlie paid anyone a plugged nickel to defend him.
A couple of questions (and please forgive my gross naiveté):
1. I am assuming Mr. Rangel has documentation and records that, if accurate, should easily and readily counter these charges. Why $2,000,000 in legal fees to turn over papers that prove your innocence?
2. Why does Mr. Rangel think that it is the responsibility of his constituents to pay for his legal services, especially if he enjoyed undue or illegal gain because of his actions?
It’s not fair that I’m guilty guilty guilty.
Go ahead and play the victim, you corrupt, fat, lying, oppressive jerk.
When Rangel was stealing from Americans with no chance to fight back, that was fine.
Now it's our turn.
He’s probably lying about spending millions on lawyers. Prove it Charlie. Prove how much money you spent. Why should we believe anything you say?
Lying, holier than thou, do gooder, hypocrite!
Sorry Charlie... ( Ummm... NOT!)
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Ah’m just a poor ol broken down black man. Nobody knows da troubles ah’ve seen. Nobody knows but Jesus. Swing lowwwwww, sweet chariot, coming for to take me hoommmmmmeeeeee.
That's probably true when you're caught red-handed.
I hope they throw the book at this bum. He has had plenty of time to get representation. I guess he has had time to hide his money by now. Let him sell the property he evaded paying taxes on.
Earlier he was beyond arrogant. Now he is whining. I guess his crooked buddies finally told him that he is too hot to handle.
I will never forget when he told blacks in New Orleans that the Republicans wanted to put them back in slavery. To my eternal disgust some of them were stupid enough to believe him. I would give him ten years just for doing that.
“I hope that my colleagues in Congress, friends, constituents and anyone paying attention will consider my statement and how the committee has been unfair to me,” he said in a prepared statement. “They can do what they will with me because they have the power and I have no real chance of fighting back.”
Oh, boo hoo. Once a victim, always a victim. I’m sick and tired of it. Enuff Charlie Brown.
You've stalled, lied and dodged for years. If you've finally run out of ways to dance away from responsibility for your crimes it's still years late.
“He’s been re-elected.”
Isn’t that amazing? What a world we live in...
‘And that’s what William “Cold Cash” Jefferson said too!’
At least he got jettisoned from the Congress...
besides the same stuff about his not being able to afford an attorney, there’s this tidbit:
“The adjudicatory subcommittee is meeting behind closed doors Monday afternoon to determine if Rangel committed the 13 counts of House ethics violations that are alleged against him. If he is found guilty of the violations, he could face a full House vote on his expulsion or a lesser punishment.”
Rangel Used Leadership PAC Funds for Legal Fees
National Legal & Policy Center | November 14, 2010 | Ken Boehm
Posted on 11/14/2010 9:47:59 AM PST by jazusamo
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2627018/posts
In the meanwhile, he's merely playing games over the issue of legal representation in an attempt to garner sympathy from the public. Rangel undoubtedly knows that the procedural rules for the committee are determined by the committee itself.
The constitutional guarantee of legal representation applies to criminal defendants in criminal courts only. In other proceedings, the right to counsel may or may not be granted depending upon the specific rules of the authority presiding over the proceeding and/or the applicable law.
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