Rangel 'Lays Blame' on NLPC for His Ethics Problems

National Legal & Policy Center ^ | January 31, 2011 | Peter Flaherty

[jazusamo]

 

Washington Post reporter Wil Haygood today examines the plight of Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) since his Censure in early December. Haygood sat down with Rangel for two recent interviews, and reports Rangel's "answers were full of contradictions that seem to defy easy explanation." Also:

Rangel has genuine vitriol for the National Legal and Policy Center, which filed complaints against him with the Federal Elections Commission, the IRS and the House Ethics Committee.

Haygood paints a picture of a bitter and confused politician who seems unable to accept the fact that his time has long passed:

While taking blame for what he termed "overzealousness" in fundraising, Rangel chided members of Congress who voted for censure instead of a less serious reprimand, howled about a double standard, vowed that this episode "is not over yet" and complained bitterly about the National Legal and Policy Center, a Falls Church-based organization that chases after public officials who may have ethics issues.

Rangel is right that this episode "is not over yet." We are continuing our examination of his finances and relationships. Our pending Complaint with the Federal Election Commission, filed on November 29, alleges that Rangel illegally used almost $400,000 from his so-called leadership PAC to pay for his legal defense in the House ethics actions against him. In apparent response, Rangel established a separate legal defense fund, although his fundraising prowess is now vastly reduced.

There is much more. Although we welcomed the House Ethics Committee actions based on our research, the Committee did not go as far as it should have. For instance, it took no action on our September 16, 2009 Complaint alleging that Rangel did not report or disclose rental income from a six-unit Harlem brownstone that he owned for the years 1993 to 2001.

Nor did the Committee apparently seek to establish where the hundreds of thousand of dollars in assets and income come from that were left off Rangel's financial disclosure forms. The amounts seem inconsistent with his salary as a Congressman. The fact that they were left off also creates suspicion as to their source. Reporters have not asked about it, and Rangel did not comment on it when he amended his filings in August of 2009.

[jazusamo]

Charlie doesn't know when to shut up and his troubles aren't over by a long shot.

[RexBeach]

Let’s face it now - it’s NEVER Charlie’s fault. He is perfect in every way.

[jdfromny]

Charlie is a charter member of “The Circle of Six”. As such, he deserves everything that’s coming his way.

[Ax]

Of course, Rangel’s sticky fingers bear absolutely no blame.

[353FMG]

The devil made him do it.

[drypowder]

typical liberal, nothing bad is ever their fault. Rangel blaming NLPC?? if there is no law against it there is no crime.

[ridesthemiles]

I have a small ‘bucket list’.

One item on it is to live long enough to witness Charlie, Nancy Pelosi & Dirty Harry Reid doing a ‘prep walk’ under guard by Federal Marshals.

Higher on the list is the removal from the White House in a similar “perp walk” by Barry when his birth & school details finally surface.

[jazusamo]

Yes, he is the typical liberal who admits no fault and in his case he may really believe it. He’s done it for so many years and gotten away with it plus at his age he’s bound to be a few bricks shy. He should retire.

[Dead Corpse]

Typical Liberal. Blame everyone but the person who committed the crime in the first place.

[Venturer]

Actually Charlie Rangel is a picture of a crooked corrupt racist politician who should be in jail.

[MasterGunner01]

Let us not forget the illustrious predecessor to Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-Harlem): Adam Clayton Powell.

Adam Clayton Powell was as corrupt (or worse) than Charlie, but like Charlie seemed to lead a charmed life. His voters returned this slime worm every two years like clockwork and Powell brought home the graft in the form of taxpayers' money to them.

Powell was a pastor of the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem. He was elected to the House in November 1944 and served until January 1971. Financial mismanagement of public funds and abuse of office saw Powell stripped of his chairmanship in January 1967 and he was expelled from the House in March of that year by a 307 to 116 vote.

Powell ran in the special election to fill his empty seat and was reelected. Powell sued to regain his seat. As the legal action proceeded, Powell ran in the regular election and won. Powell was seated in the 91st Congress on 3 January 1969, but he was fined $25,000 and denied seniority.

Powell lost his primary election to Charlie Rangel in the 1970 election cycle. Powell's attempts to get on the ballot as an Independent failed. Powell moved to a compound in Bimini island. By 1972, Powell's health began to fail and he was flown to Miami for treatment. Powell died on 4 April 1972 from complications of severe prostatitius.

Charlie has learned much from Powell and has carried on with the traditions of fraud, graft, and all around corruption practiced by Powell.

[jazusamo]

There’s no doubt he should be in a federal prison for the corruption he’s gotten away with to date

[sniper63]

When is he going to use the “Victim of Society” defense, since the race card is pretty much maxed out.....