Rangel hit with 13 ethics charges

July 30, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

House investigators accused veteran New York Rep. Charles Rangel of 13 violations of congressional ethics standards Thursday, throwing a cloud over his four-decade political career and raising worries for fellow Democrats about the fall elections.

The allegations include failure to report rental income from vacation property in the Dominican Republic and hundreds of thousands of dollars in additional income and assets on his financial-disclosure statements.

Other charges focused on Rangel’s use of congressional staff and stationery to raise money for a college center in New York named after him; accepting favors and benefits from the donors that may have influenced his congressional actions; use of a subsidized New York apartment as a campaign office instead of a residence; and misuse of the congressional free-mail privilege.

“Even though they are serious charges, I’m prepared to prove that the only thing I’ve ever had in my 50 years of public service is service,” Rangel told reporters Thursday night. “That’s what I’ve done, and if I’ve been overzealous providing that service, I can’t make an excuse for the serious violations.”

The charges came as lawyers for Rangel and the House ethics committee worked out a plea deal, according to people familiar with the talks. But Republicans on the ethics committee indicated it was too late.

The deal between the lawyers has little meaning if the committee members don’t approve it, and Republicans insisted — at the first meeting of a House panel deciding Rangel’s fate — that the case go forward with an ethics trial. The panel is evenly divided between Democrats and Republicans.

“Mr. Rangel was given multiple opportunities to settle this matter. Instead, he chose to move forward to the public-trial phase,” said Rep. Jo Bonner of Alabama, the senior Republican on the ethics panel

Chairman Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., has made clear that she wants the committee to be unanimous — leaving little chance for agreement without Rangel capitulating on virtually all counts.

A trial could be avoided only if Rangel admitted to substantial violations or resigned.

Punishment could range from a report criticizing his conduct to a reprimand or censure by the House or a vote to expel him.