Rangel Denies Wrongdoing in Ethics Case

(CBS)  The official investigation began two years ago at the request of Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) himself who defiantly asked the ethics committee to look into his actions.

Rangel is known for saying he hadn't had a bad day since he survived battle in the Korean War. On Thursday he said that changed, reports CBS News investigative correspondent Sharyl Attkisson.

"Today I have to reassess that statement," he said.

At the heart of the 13 counts is what critics have called Rangel's "monument to me," a presidential-library-like project called "The Rangel Center" at City College in New York. It was the subject of a CBS News investigation in 2007.

Rangel is charged with using public resources and Congressional letterhead to ask for big donations for the Rangel Center; that he solicited companies that had business before the tax committee he led at the time, including Goldman Sachs, Wachovia and dozens more; that he asked for $30 million from Verizon and New York Life, and $10 million from insurance giant AIG.

Rangel's attorneys responded that "The uncontroverted evidence is that Congressman Rangel never suggested that any donor to the Rangel Center would receive favorable consideration in legislative matters and never gave preferential treatment to any contributor."

Read the 32-page response from Rangel's attorneys

He's also charged with directing taxpayer earmarks to the center; failing to disclose income, checking accounts, stock and property; and improperly using rent-subsidized apartments for his campaign committees.

The stage is now set for the kind of spectacle that many of Rangel's colleagues had hoped to avoid. The last ethics trial was in 2002. James Traficant had been convicted of bribery and corruption.

Traficant's defense? Point fingers at colleagues who'd been found guilty of having sex with young pages but were not expelled.

At one point Traficant asked, "Is sex with a minor 17 years old rape?" When a colleague began to answer, Traficant continued, "And a felony, sir?"

In Rangel's case, he denies wrongdoing. The trial should begin in September.

[dibbs977]

It just seems fishy to me---that we have two black Democrats being attacked right now. Republicans are so good at fault-finding and they have such powerful business associations that they are very good at hiding all their financial wrong doings.

[JayAdler1]

I lived half my life a mile uptown from Charley Rangel's district. Before him I remember Adam Clayton Powell and his power at the ballot booth. Losing was never in the cards for either of them. I cannot understand why Charley does not cop to something minor and take a powder. If he fights this thing he will damage the Democratic Party in November when it does not have to happen. The cardinal rule in any Congressional hearing or criminal investigation is if they give you a reasonable deal and you can walk, take it because after that it usually can get much worse.If Charley sits on a tack and admits to zero there is the potential of a trial and one that may creep up to the Election. Charley should go on with his life, there are a few politicians lately who have veered away from their mission statements and let down their constituency. This could be quick and simple and nobody gets affected or a house of cards could come tumbling down.

[pake3]

Strategy of all criminals
Deny
Attack
Apologize

Never fully trust a politician! They raise, spend and pocket millions of dollars for a job that pays only $174,000. Some may have become a politician for purely innocent reasons, but money, prestige and power seduces many, thus perpetuating the cycle.

[us_1776]

Both sides of the aisle are calling for Charlie Rangel to step down.

Charlie, this is one battle you are not going to win. And don't count on many of us on the left to come to your defense. Please step down and do yourself and the House a favor.




.

[scottyusa]

This isn't saying anything new but he is a typical low life politician and he should have been booted. We need to get rid of these cheating scum in November. Come on americans our standards have got to be higher than what we are getting!

[Quantrill13]

Why the heck are the R's letting this R hater off the hook? If the shoe were on the other foot an R would have been kicked out long ago. Rangel has always been the first one to talk up and kick out a Republican for doing much less than he has done.

[shierp]

I just heard on another news source that the congressional committee on this is going to reccomend a reprimand. A reprimand? For all of these 13 counts including solicitation of funds from interests up before his committee? Congress has never been at all trustworthy enough to police itself. If we are going to keep from becoming a third world government of blatant corruption, we must hold our elected officials to the rule of law. The FBI needs to be investigating all of these issues. The courts need to decide the legality of these people's actions and not their colleagues. The jusice dept needs to not block the FBI from doing its' job.

[tsigili]

It is highly likely, that if the truth were known, at least half of the members of Congress, in both houses, would have numerous ethics violations to review.

That is how Congress does business. Rangel is but the tip of the iceberg, I would suggest.

[TJphoto]

Until we as a people demand that money be removed from the political process, and vote out those who do not adhere to our wishes, this will go on and on. 13 Trillion dollars in the hole, what the hell, VOTE THEM ALL OUT ANYWAY!!!!

[bradkt1]

Why don't you just try blaming Charlie?