Rangel Admonished by Ethics Committee
[Guest post by DRJ]
Democratic Congressman Charles Rangel confirmed Thursday night that the House ethics committee determined he violated House rules in connection with two trips to the Caribbean:
“The House ethics committee says in a three-page report that Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., “violated the House gift rule” by accepting travel to Antigua in November 2007 and St. Maarten in November 2008 paid for by corporate funds.”
Rangel is not happy to find out he’s expected to talk to and supervise his staff when it comes to free trips to the Caribbean:
“Common sense dictates that members of Congress shouldn’t be held responsible for what could be the wrongdoing or the error of their staff unless they think the member knew or should have known. And there is nothing in the record on that,” Rangel told reporters Thursday night.
“I have to now deal with my lawyer to figure out what the hell they mean,” he added. “…That what a staff member does but a member doesn’t know it –- the member could be charged and admonished publicly for it? I think right now I will let the general community make its own judgments based on what the ethics committee has said and I’ll get back to you with a longer statement afterwards.”
Rangel also had a run-in with a CNN reporter and a heated exchange with the Democratic and Republican leaders of the House ethics committee.
He’s taking this well.
– DRJ
translated: “How DARE you find me guilty….this is unprecedented!”
Comment by redc1c4 (fb8750) — 2/25/2010 @ 7:42 pm
Expect the race card to be pulled at the appropriate time.
Comment by GeneralMalaise (c58b20) — 2/25/2010 @ 7:52 pm
“These are not my pants. I borrowed them by accident.”
It’s called the PD defense in Cook County because “PD” is racially neutral.
Comment by nk (db4a41) — 2/25/2010 @ 7:56 pm
A great example of leadership this is not.
Comment by Amphipolis (17a9b7) — 2/25/2010 @ 7:56 pm
Congressional Barons shall not be dissed.
Comment by AD - RtR/OS! (116c8a) — 2/25/2010 @ 8:01 pm
Mostly, he’s just sorry he got caught.
DRJ – Can’t you embed that memorble picture from the NY Post of Randel snoozing in the beach chair in this post?
Comment by daleyrocks (718861) — 2/25/2010 @ 8:04 pm
memorable and Rangel.
Comment by daleyrocks (718861) — 2/25/2010 @ 8:05 pm
I don’t have time to find a copy I can embed but here’s a link, daleyrocks.
Comment by DRJ (6a8003) — 2/25/2010 @ 8:28 pm
“I will let the general community make its own judgments based on what the ethics committee has said….”
That means he will be reelected because the “general community” means harlem believes the “po po” are after minorities.
Riding in his cadillac escalade rangel understands that “general community” too well.
I will never have faith in a minority elected official until the “general community” quits electing idiots and charlatans and that includes obama.
Comment by Jim (582155) — 2/25/2010 @ 9:20 pm
Stereotype much?
Comment by JD (b537f4) — 2/25/2010 @ 9:22 pm
It is popular in some quarters to portray Charlie as a bit of a duffer. Do not be misled. He has been pond scum for years. Read all about his part in the murder of a NYC police officer back in ’71
http://www.grumpclub.org/textfiles/apr06.htm
As I always say, “Officer Cardillo was unavailable for comment…”
Comment by Gazzer (fe2281) — 2/25/2010 @ 9:24 pm
Oops, it was 1972.
Comment by Gazzer (fe2281) — 2/25/2010 @ 9:25 pm
Let me see if I can recall what the Democrats did to Mark Foley, who was later found innocent of all charges … hmmm. Should the same apply here despite the D after his name?
Comment by bill-tb (541ea9) — 2/25/2010 @ 10:05 pm
Rangel has always reminded me of Edwin Edwards, former governor of Louisiana, who famously defeated David Duke with the campaign slogan: “Vote for the crook. It’s important.” The Dems prefer their crooked politicians to have a twinkle, rather than just a crazed or desperate look, in one eye as they wink at you with the other.
Comment by Beldar (cd065f) — 2/25/2010 @ 11:35 pm
Oh, yeah, and: “Vote lizard, not wizard.”
Comment by Beldar (cd065f) — 2/25/2010 @ 11:37 pm
He will be “admonished”. That’s like sending a “strongly worded” note to the Iranians?
Comment by TexasBob (2656a4) — 2/26/2010 @ 4:47 am
Rangel ought to be perp walked to the nearest Federal SuperMax prison and the door to his cell welded shut.
Comment by PCD (1d8b6d) — 2/26/2010 @ 5:53 am
I can’t understand why 86% of the public think the government is broken.
Comment by Corwin (ea9428) — 2/26/2010 @ 6:26 am
We’ve certainly seen what a brazen lie was the claim by Pelosi that Democrats would clean up their act in the House.
Comment by SPQR (26be8b) — 2/26/2010 @ 7:06 am
that was just advertising copy, SPQR. you didn’t actually *believe* it, did you?
Comment by redc1c4 (fb8750) — 2/26/2010 @ 7:42 am
Democrats love taxes because they don’t have to pay them.
Comment by HeavenSent (c3c032) — 2/26/2010 @ 7:50 am
Rangle; How’s that plausible deniability working out for you? I wonder what deal you made with the aide you through under the bus to cover for you? It is unbelievable that you expect us to believe that you are not responsible for ensuring that your staff behaves in an ethical, moral, responsible, legal and virtuous manner in their daily business under your stewardship.
I couldn’t write that with a straight face! I seen the democrat machine in New York falling apart like a cheap suit. About time.
Comment by vet66 (9d1bb3) — 2/26/2010 @ 8:09 am
He knew exactly what he was doing and knew he would get away with it. And yet, he is still in charge of the committee responsible for deciding how to spend our money. How swwweeeetttt!
Comment by PatAZ (9d1bb3) — 2/26/2010 @ 10:24 am
This is not the government..
Comment by kissmo (310ae1) — 2/26/2010 @ 5:01 pm
@kissmo: how would you describe it? its certainly the democratic party…..
Comment by redc1c4 (fb8750) — 2/26/2010 @ 5:20 pm
I don’t think it’s so much Con.Rangel’s problem (he’ll be re elected ) as Speaker Pelosi’s . Someone in media is ineveitably going to ask about and list his transgressions. Yet ,if she pressures him , “The Conscience of the Country ” wtf tm- will scream racism. and Speaker Pelosi likes her job.
Comment by corwin (9a0299) — 2/27/2010 @ 6:53 am