July 29, 2010 3:40 PM
- Text
Rangel Says No Plea Deal Yet to Ethics Charges
(CBS/AP)
Veteran New York Rep. Charles Rangel said Thursday there's no deal yet to settle his ethics case and avoid an election-season trial on charges of violating House rules.
Shortly before a special panel was scheduled to meet, Rangel told reporters outside his office, "Until someone tells me there's a deal, there isn't."
Rangel's comments came after Harlem friends of the lawmaker told WCBS in New York that Rangel reportedly cut a deal to admit to ethical wrongdoing and avoid a potentially humiliating public trial.
Eight House lawmakers who will determine the former Ways and Means chairman's guilt or innocence put off the start of their meeting due to House votes. Democrats, fearful about the impact on their re-election prospects, will get their first look at the allegations at the session.
In the frantic hours leading up to the meeting, Rangel's lawyer, Leslie Kiernan, talked to attorneys for the panel about how to avoid a trial for the 40-year veteran. That could only happen if Rangel negotiates a plea bargain, admitting to substantial violations, or resigns.
Punishment could range from a report criticizing his conduct to a reprimand or censure by the House, or a vote to expel him — which is highly unlikely. Any agreement would have to be approved by Rangel and ethics committee members.
"Sixty years ago I survived a Chinese attack in North Korea and as a result I haven't had a bad day since," Rangel told reporters. "But today I have to reassess that statement."
Less than two hours before the panel convened, Speaker Nancy Pelosi was asked if she was worried about the potential election-year fallout to Democrats.
"The chips will have to fall where they may politically," she said. Pursuing ethics cases against House members was "a serious responsibility that we have," she added.
"I think everyone is looking forward to getting all the facts out in the open and people will have to react once we know what we're dealing with," said Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill.
Rangel is tied for fourth in House seniority. He's still vigorous at 80 years old. He had substantial influence as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, which handles taxes, trade, portions of health care, Medicare and Social Security.
Rangel stepped down from that post in March after the ethics committee criticized him in a separate case, saying he should have known that corporate money paid for two trips to Caribbean conferences.
The four Democrats and four Republicans acting as judges are holding their organizational meeting for an ethics trial that many Democrats hope will go away.
Rangel has repeatedly said he looked forward to a public discussion of the allegations. A four-member investigating panel, with separate members from the judging subcommittee, brought the charges after a two-year investigation.
The investigators looked at Rangel's misuse of his office for fundraising, failure to disclose income, belated payment of taxes and possible help with a tax shelter for a company whose chief executive was a major donor.
The 42-member Congressional Black Caucus has warned Democrats against a rush to judgment, and any lawmaker with a significant African-American constituency must consider whether it's worth asking Rangel to quit.
However, some Democratic House members in close races may think it's more important to distance themselves from Rangel. They don't want to have to answer negative Republican ads about Pelosi's promise to wipe Congress clean of ethical misdeeds.
At least three Democrats didn't wait to hear the charges.
Rep. Betty Sutton of Ohio, a second-term lawmaker who received 65 percent of the vote two years ago, said Rangel needs to resign to preserve the public's trust in Congress.
Rep. Walt Minnick of Idaho, a freshman who got 51 percent of the vote last time, called for resignation if the charges are proven.
If a trial is held, it probably would begin in September. Congress adjourns for its August recess after this week.
"The focus right now is let's get out of here," said Rep. William Delahunt, D-Mass.
Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Ariz., told CBS News' Jan Crawford that she is calling for Rangel to resign.
"I think as members of Congress we have duty to hold each other to a high standard," she said. "I'm not happy with what's been discovered by the Ethics Committee and I think he should step down."
Shortly before a special panel was scheduled to meet, Rangel told reporters outside his office, "Until someone tells me there's a deal, there isn't."
Rangel's comments came after Harlem friends of the lawmaker told WCBS in New York that Rangel reportedly cut a deal to admit to ethical wrongdoing and avoid a potentially humiliating public trial.
Eight House lawmakers who will determine the former Ways and Means chairman's guilt or innocence put off the start of their meeting due to House votes. Democrats, fearful about the impact on their re-election prospects, will get their first look at the allegations at the session.
In the frantic hours leading up to the meeting, Rangel's lawyer, Leslie Kiernan, talked to attorneys for the panel about how to avoid a trial for the 40-year veteran. That could only happen if Rangel negotiates a plea bargain, admitting to substantial violations, or resigns.
Punishment could range from a report criticizing his conduct to a reprimand or censure by the House, or a vote to expel him — which is highly unlikely. Any agreement would have to be approved by Rangel and ethics committee members.
"Sixty years ago I survived a Chinese attack in North Korea and as a result I haven't had a bad day since," Rangel told reporters. "But today I have to reassess that statement."
Less than two hours before the panel convened, Speaker Nancy Pelosi was asked if she was worried about the potential election-year fallout to Democrats.
"The chips will have to fall where they may politically," she said. Pursuing ethics cases against House members was "a serious responsibility that we have," she added.
"I think everyone is looking forward to getting all the facts out in the open and people will have to react once we know what we're dealing with," said Rep. Mike Quigley, D-Ill.
Rangel is tied for fourth in House seniority. He's still vigorous at 80 years old. He had substantial influence as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, which handles taxes, trade, portions of health care, Medicare and Social Security.
Rangel stepped down from that post in March after the ethics committee criticized him in a separate case, saying he should have known that corporate money paid for two trips to Caribbean conferences.
The four Democrats and four Republicans acting as judges are holding their organizational meeting for an ethics trial that many Democrats hope will go away.
Rangel has repeatedly said he looked forward to a public discussion of the allegations. A four-member investigating panel, with separate members from the judging subcommittee, brought the charges after a two-year investigation.
The investigators looked at Rangel's misuse of his office for fundraising, failure to disclose income, belated payment of taxes and possible help with a tax shelter for a company whose chief executive was a major donor.
The 42-member Congressional Black Caucus has warned Democrats against a rush to judgment, and any lawmaker with a significant African-American constituency must consider whether it's worth asking Rangel to quit.
However, some Democratic House members in close races may think it's more important to distance themselves from Rangel. They don't want to have to answer negative Republican ads about Pelosi's promise to wipe Congress clean of ethical misdeeds.
At least three Democrats didn't wait to hear the charges.
Rep. Betty Sutton of Ohio, a second-term lawmaker who received 65 percent of the vote two years ago, said Rangel needs to resign to preserve the public's trust in Congress.
Rep. Walt Minnick of Idaho, a freshman who got 51 percent of the vote last time, called for resignation if the charges are proven.
If a trial is held, it probably would begin in September. Congress adjourns for its August recess after this week.
"The focus right now is let's get out of here," said Rep. William Delahunt, D-Mass.
Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick, D-Ariz., told CBS News' Jan Crawford that she is calling for Rangel to resign.
"I think as members of Congress we have duty to hold each other to a high standard," she said. "I'm not happy with what's been discovered by the Ethics Committee and I think he should step down."
Popular Now in Politics
- Timothy Dolan: Birth control tweak a "first step"
- CPAC: Santorum rips Romney, rouses conservatives
- Archbishop Dolan urges Obama to back down on birth control
- CPAC: Will Sarah Palin spring a surprise?
- After uproar, Obama tweaks birth control rule
- Santorum: Women could bring "emotions" to combat
- Ann Coulter riles up the CPAC crowd
- STOCK Act passes in House
- Romney takes on hecklers at Maine town hall
- Obama to announce revamp of birth control policy
- Santorum's big benefactor
- Former Giffords aide to run for her House seat
- CPAC: Huckabee "thanks" Obama for birth control firestorm
- Romney says his conservatism will shine
- Report: Chicago cardinal joins contraceptives fight
- Occupy protestors kicked out of CPAC
- Is Rick Santorum conservatives' last, best hope?
Latest CBS News Headlines
on Facebook
on CBS News
- Hacker claims porn site users compromised
- Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood wants government sacked
- Jordan holds ex-intelligence chief in graft probe
- Palestinian prisoner on 55th day of hunger strike
on Facebook
- Adele sings a cappella for Anderson Cooper
- Beyonce and Jay-Z post first photos of Blue Ivy Carter
- Adele sings a cappella for Anderson Cooper
on CBS News
