Rep. Rangel to Keep Chairmanship During Ethics Investigation

[wvbygod]

Source: NYT

"Today, Nancy Pelosi and the Democrat-led Congress officially abandoned their promise to run the 'most ethical Congress in history' and instead embraced the politics of corruption with open arms," said Ken Spain, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee.

Rangel recently announced that he would hire a forensic accountant to untangle his financial records, which contain a variety of errors. Rangel has said the accountant will turn over findings to the congressman and the ethics panel at the same time. And he has promised to make public tax returns for the past 20 years after the panel has determined whether he violated any rules.

Rangel, 78, acknowledged last week that he failed to disclose and pay taxes on at least $75,000 in rental income from a villa in the Dominican Republic that he has owned for 20 years -- a home financed, in part, with a no-interest loan from the developer. Rangel said he would amend his returns and pay back taxes of more than $10,000.

The ethics panel is investigating the villa deal. It also is examining Rangel's rental of several New York apartments at below-market rates and his fundraising entreaties on congressional stationery on behalf of the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at City College in New York.



Read more: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/16/AR2008091601938.html

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I hope he comes out clean or else eggs and faces may meet.

[GodlessBiker]

1. His Committee drafts tax laws and he didn't pay taxes? He should not be Chair.

[OwnedByFerrets]

5. And pResident

FUCKTARD starts illegal wars and tortures people. FUCK THOSE REPUG LEGISLATORS. HYPOCRITES ALL.

[GodlessBiker]

6. I understand. We should sink to their level. I disagree.

[OwnedByFerrets]

30. No, clean your own

fucking house, then we can discuss cleaning mine. They are hypocrites.

[Winterblues]

7. It has only been "his committee" for a little over a year

Is the Dominican Republic a US Territory? If it isn't why would he have to pay taxes on a home he owns there?

[choie]

8. he received income from rent

[GodlessBiker]

9. Because it's the law, and I would think that the Chair of the tax law writing committee ...

would know that; and if he doesn't know it, he should.

[joeglow3]

28. A fundamental rule of tax law is that ALL Income is taxable

unless the code specifically says so. That is why drug dealers, mob bosses, etc. get nailed for tax evasion. While they may not be able to prove where the money came from, they can clearly show that it was not simply given to them and, thus, the owe taxes on it.

[timeoutofjoint]

2. Democrats will get creamed for this stupid move by Pelosi.

[FVZA_Colonel]

29. I am a bit concerned this will come back to bite Obama and other Democrats "down ticket" in November

The Repugs will run wild with this, pointing out "OH, it's really DEMOCRATS WHO ARE CORRUPT!!!", whether it's true or not.

[boomerbust]

3. This is one reason

Bush will not be impeached.

[cstanleytech]

4. Guys, do you really want to put stock into the words of a bobbleheaded GOPer?

If however you hear or see any republicans like this one spouting off then point out the investigation is not over and that they are hypocrites to convict him now when Bush was accused of something like illegal wiretaps they were saying "oh, we have no evidence" and other similar things but then when evidence emerged to prove it they did nothing at all and let Bush walk away.
Plus theres the whole Scooter Libby case to use against them as well and his pardon that was not called a pardon.

[Dr. Strange]

31. It's not just a GOPer:

Rangel acknowledged last week that he failed to disclose and pay taxes on at least $75,000 in rental income from a villa in the Dominican Republic that he has owned for 20 years -- a house financed, in part, with a no-interest loan. He has said he would amend his returns and pay back taxes of more than $10,000.

[bvar22]

10. Big Time Charlie with the diamond pinky ring..?

I'm not surprised.

When the Democrats won the majority in 2006, the FIRST thing on Charlie and Fancy Nancy's agenda was "negotiating" a secret Free Trade Deal directly with Bush.
When asked why he kept the "deal" secret from the Democratic Caucus, LABOR, and Environmental reps, Charlie responded with a grin and a wink, "They just get in the way of business".

Sorry, Charlie & Nancy.
I once held you in high regard.

[rayofreason]

11. STUCK IN HIS WAYS RANGEL REJECTS CLAMOR TO QUIT COMMITTEE CHAIR

Source: NY Post

Embattled US Rep. Charles Rangel will not give up his plum leadership position on one of the most powerful committees in Congress, his lawyer said yesterday.

Despite growing calls for him to step aside as chairman of the tax-law-writing Ways and Means Committee - because he failed to report rental income from his Dominican Republic hideaway on his own tax returns - Rangel will stay put as the House Ethics Committee investigates his personal finances.

"Mr. Rangel has not considered, nor has it ever been on the table, that he would step aside from his current position as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee," said the Harlem Democrat's lawyer, Lanny Davis.

Read more: http://www.nypost.com/seven/09172008/news/regionalnews/stuck_in_his_ways_129463.htm

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Sheesh. One set of rules for them, another for us.

[Captain Hilts]

12. I like Charlie, he IS a war hero and a peoples' hero, but age alone should be...

a reason to step down.

[slackmaster]

13. I rarely make unqualified diagnoses like this on the Internet

But I believe Mr. Rangel is senile and should retire from public office.

[Freddie Stubbs]

20. I have seen no evidence that he is senile

He is still very sharp from what I have seen of him.

He either has played fast and loose with his taxes or has done a poor job choosing a good accountant. Either way, it may not be the best idea for him to chair the committee that is responsible for writing federal tax law.

[slackmaster]

24. People in early stages of Alzheimers very often make bad choices for financial advisors

Or are you saying Rangel may be just a crook?

[lifesbeautifulmagic]

14. "growing calls"

like from who?

[ticapnews]

18. Some people.

[SoCalDem]

32. "un-named sources".. n/t

[nolabels]

22. Making a mistake filling taxes qualifies one as evil, senile and corrupt

Hundreds of billions of dollars flowing out of the US treasury to bail out crooks with contempt but a paper like the New York Post finds it important to report on some Democratic Congresspersons mistake on a tax return :shrug:

[dbonds]

15. Does this mean if I am ever fired, I can just reject call from the boss and keep working?

[DavidDvorkin]

16. His boss is the voters who elected him.

[MessiahRp]

17. His attorney is Lanny Davis?

The same slimeball Lanny Davis from the primaries?

Yuck. Birds of a feather.

Rp

[marshall]

21. Lanny is a strong Clinton supporter

As is Rangel.

[wvbygod]

19. Ethics and ability to head a committee

One can not claim ignorance on paying their taxes and be head of the tax committee.

[Doctor_J]

23. Careful - there will be a LOT of political prosecutions of Dems this year

likely that at least 100 Dem Congresspeople will be "investigated" this year, just because they can.

[slackmaster]

25. Please show evidence that this case is politically motivated

:hi:

[Doctor_J]

26. The evidence is that David Vitter is still in the Senate

:shrug:

[slackmaster]

27. Which is completely unrelated to Rangel's tax issues

:nuke:

[Doctor_J]

33. Not really. Vitter has confessed to felonies and remains in his job

Rangel is being investigated and people are calling for him to give his up. There could be nothing to this except headlines for the GOP.