Rangel Case Poses Test for Democrats as Elections Near

[Raggz]

Source: NY Times

In the 40-page report, the committee said it substantiated the major charges that had been hanging over Mr. Rangel for two years: that he improperly used his office to solicit donations for a school to be named in his honor; failed to pay taxes on and report rental income from his Dominican villa; filed incomplete financial disclosure forms; and improperly accepted from a Manhattan developer rent-stabilized apartments, one of which he used as a campaign office.

But while those alleged infractions had been widely reported, the committee unearthed new details about Mr. Rangel’s conduct. The committee said Mr. Rangel not only reached out to corporate executives seeking contributions to the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at City College, but he also personally sought donations from registered lobbyists whose corporations had business before Congress. In some cases, Mr. Rangel asked for contributions of as much as $30 million from businesses with issues before the Ways and Means Committee, of which he was the chairman until March.

“Reasonable persons could construe contributions to the Rangel Center by persons with interests before the Ways and Means Committee as influencing the performance of Respondent’s governmental duties,” the report stated, saying it violated the Congressional Code of Ethics.

In addition, Mr. Rangel, when he secured a rent-stabilized apartment for his campaign operation at the Lenox Terrace development in Harlem, signed an application saying that the apartment would be the primary residence for his son, Steven Rangel, and not be used for business purposes, the report said. Steven Rangel never lived in the apartment, and the committee said the developer, the Olnick Organization, included Mr. Rangel on a “special handling list,” apparently for V.I.P.’s, and did not take action against him even as it cracked down on other tenants whose apartments were not being used as primary residences.

The report suggested that, after 20 terms in Congress, Mr. Rangel had come to rely on his government-paid staff for activities unrelated to his Congressional work.

Read more: http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/30/nyregion/30rangel.html?_r=1&hp

[bluestateguy]

1. This seems like a relatively simple throw under the bus case to me

I'll be dammed if Mr. Bring Back the Draft is worth sticking our necks out for. In criminal court he enjoys a presumption of innocence before, and if, proven guilty. Serving in public office, however, is not the same thing and a higher standard should be demanded.

It's a safe seat anyway.

[aquart]

2. But not a safe seat in your district.

He took Cheney's office. I award him the rent-controlled apartments for that alone....and we kill for rent-controlled apartments in my town.

[saigon68]

4. Ah yes Mr Bring back the Draft

I've seen how that works--

Ask the 4 biggest draft dodgers in my time about that--- CHENEY, THE CHIMP, JOEMENTUM LIMPMANN AND BILLY I NEVER INHALED-- about how good it worked 40 years ago

[old mark]

3. But, to me, these charges sound like things most members of congress are doing anyway...

if not much worse.
I have very little respect for members of congress as a group and have seen the way they attack one of their own almost as a sacrifice to prevent the harsh light shining on the rest of them.

Congressional "ethics"?

Always a laugh, guys...


mark