- 11/16/10 11:57 AM ET
A House ethics panel found that Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) committed 11 of 13 House ethics violations with which he was charged.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), the chairwoman of the adjudicatory subcommittee and the full House ethics committee, said late Tuesday morning that there was "clear and convincing evidence" of the violations following a one-day trial of the 20-term lawmaker.
The subcommittee is expected to meet in order to recommend a punishment for Rangel. That recommendation will be considered by the full House ethics committee, which will have to agree to the the terms of the punishment. Serious sanctions are then voted on by the full House.
Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), the chairwoman of the adjudicatory subcommittee and the full House ethics committee, said late Tuesday morning that there was "clear and convincing evidence" of the violations following a one-day trial of the 20-term lawmaker.
The subcommittee is expected to meet in order to recommend a punishment for Rangel. That recommendation will be considered by the full House ethics committee, which will have to agree to the the terms of the punishment. Serious sanctions are then voted on by the full House.
Ethics watchdog renews call for Rangel resignation
- 11/16/10 12:46 PM ET
After Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) was found guilty of violating House ethics rules, the ethics watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) again called on him to resign from Congress.
CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan approved of the decision and said Rangel should resign.
"All of Mr. Rangel's theatrics aside, the facts were clear: Mr. Rangel violated numerous House rules and federal laws. Whether these violations were deliberate or inadvertent, the American people deserve to be represented by members of Congress who adhere to the highest ethical standards," Sloan said in a statement. "Mr. Rangel should resign."
A House ethics panel found Rangel committed 11 of the 13 of the violations with which he was charged. The committee will consider a punishment for the 20-term lawmaker and send it to the full ethics panel for consideration.
If they recommend a serious punishment, such as expulsion, censure or a formal reprimand, the full House will have to vote to enact it. Expulsion requires a two-thirds majority while the latter two require a majority.
CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan approved of the decision and said Rangel should resign.
"All of Mr. Rangel's theatrics aside, the facts were clear: Mr. Rangel violated numerous House rules and federal laws. Whether these violations were deliberate or inadvertent, the American people deserve to be represented by members of Congress who adhere to the highest ethical standards," Sloan said in a statement. "Mr. Rangel should resign."
A House ethics panel found Rangel committed 11 of the 13 of the violations with which he was charged. The committee will consider a punishment for the 20-term lawmaker and send it to the full ethics panel for consideration.
If they recommend a serious punishment, such as expulsion, censure or a formal reprimand, the full House will have to vote to enact it. Expulsion requires a two-thirds majority while the latter two require a majority.
Rangel lambasts 'unfair' ethics decision
- 11/16/10 01:22 PM ET
In his first official statement since his conviction for breaking House ethics rules, Rep. Charles Rangel excoriated the decision as "unfair."
Rangel (D-N.Y.) said the ethics adjudicatory subcommittee's "unprecedented" decision violated his due process rights because they ruled without him having legal representation.
"How can anyone have confidence in the decision of the ethics subcommittee when I was deprived of due process rights, right to counsel and was not even in the room?" Rangel said. "I can only hope that the full committee will treat me more fairly, and take into account my entire 40 years of service to the Congress before making any decisions on sanction."
The panel ruled that Rangel was guilty 11 of the 13 charges of violating ethics rules dealing mostly with his personal finances. The subcommittee is expected to recommend a punishment for the 20-term lawmaker.
Rangel did not indicate he would seek to appeal the decision saying, "While I am required to accept the findings of the Ethics Committee, I am compelled to state again the unfairness of its continuation without affording me the opportunity to obtain legal counsel as guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution."
Asked if he had any reaction to the panel's decision, Rangel initially told reporters, "Nope, none." The congressman said he does not know if there is an appeals process at this point and added that he first saw the ruling on television.
Rangel (D-N.Y.) said the ethics adjudicatory subcommittee's "unprecedented" decision violated his due process rights because they ruled without him having legal representation.
"How can anyone have confidence in the decision of the ethics subcommittee when I was deprived of due process rights, right to counsel and was not even in the room?" Rangel said. "I can only hope that the full committee will treat me more fairly, and take into account my entire 40 years of service to the Congress before making any decisions on sanction."
The panel ruled that Rangel was guilty 11 of the 13 charges of violating ethics rules dealing mostly with his personal finances. The subcommittee is expected to recommend a punishment for the 20-term lawmaker.
Rangel did not indicate he would seek to appeal the decision saying, "While I am required to accept the findings of the Ethics Committee, I am compelled to state again the unfairness of its continuation without affording me the opportunity to obtain legal counsel as guaranteed under the U.S. Constitution."
Asked if he had any reaction to the panel's decision, Rangel initially told reporters, "Nope, none." The congressman said he does not know if there is an appeals process at this point and added that he first saw the ruling on television.
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