After a nearly two-year investigation, a House investigative panel has concluded that Representative Charles B. Rangel violated a range of ethics rules, dealing a serious blow to Mr. Rangel, a Harlem Democrat, in the twilight of his political career.If it's already too late to find another Democrat to replace Rangel, then this could turn into a political disaster really, really quickly. We'll see where this goes, but you can bet the calls for Rangel to be expelled from the House will be made on an hourly basis by the Right.
The investigative panel did not disclose any details about the nature of the violations that it found, but one House official who has been briefed on the findings said that they included the most serious allegations that had been examined.
“All I know is that it was a majority of them,” the House official said, asking not to be identified as the ruling is supposed to remain confidential for one week.A lawyer involved in Mr. Rangel’s defense, who also asked not to be named, disputed that characterization, adding that the case is not over yet.
“He has not been found guilty of anything,” the lawyer said.
The committee had been investigating claims that Mr. Rangel improperly rented four rent-stabilized apartments in Harlem at a price well below market value, despite rules forbidding House members from accepting gifts worth more than $50.
It also had been investigating allegations that he improperly used his office to provide legislative favors for an oil-drilling company that pledged a $1 million donation for an academic center named for Mr. Rangel and improperly failed to report taxable income received from a villa he owns in the Dominican Republic.
They may not necessarily be wrong.
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