http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0710/40416.html
The panel's Statement of Alleged Violation reports that there is "substantial reason to believe" that the 40-year House veteran violated a series of 13 ethics and federal regulations applying to public officials.
The 41-page Statement of Alleged Violation, released Thursday afternoon, offers a sweeping indictment of Rangel, drawing a portrait of a lawmaker who failed to accurately report his financial assets, used his office to raise money for the Rangel center and avoided taxes.
You can read the document here:
http://ethics.house.gov/Media/PDF/Rangel%20SAV.pdf
There are rumors that Rangel has reached a deal, though as I write this no official mention of such a deal has been made.
http://thehill.com/homenews/house/111641-pelosi-defends-partys-ethics-record-as-rangel-reportedly-cuts-deal
Rep. Charlie Rangel has reportedly reached a deal on ethics charges that will avoid a public trial that could have hurt his party ahead of the fall elections.
WCBS-TV in New York reported Harlem friends of Rangel said a deal had been struck, and details of the deal could be unveiled when the ethics panel meets as scheduled at 1 p.m. The network reported Rangel will admit to wrongdoing as part of the deal.
Separately, The Wall Street Journal reported that lawyers had reached a tentative deal to settle the ethics charges and avoid a trial.
Rangel initially told reporters Thursday at the Capitol that he didn’t know if a deal had been reached.
We may have to wait a little while to see if such a deal was made. Democrats have to walk a slender tightrope... too much emphasis on Rangel's wrongdoings and they make their own party look bad, but too little and they risk being perceived as ignoring clear ethics violations in their party.
I love dilemmas like this one. If nothing else, it should make for good theater...
The deal is not yet final...and I'm hoping for a creative measure. The guy can stick around...but I'd like to see him kicked off his committee...put in the National Parks committee or Agricultural committee. Plus, I'd like to see him sent to a financial responsibilities class for a week (but I know it won't help).
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