GOP Demands Ethics Trials For Rangel, Waters

The House ethics committee split along party lines Tuesday as Republicans demanded pre-election trials for two prominent Democrats, Charles Rangel and Maxine Waters.

The rift is important politically because proceedings in October could generate negative headlines for Democrats. Trials after the election would likely keep the Democrats' ethics record in the background in midterm campaigns largely fought over economic issues.

Rangel, of New York, is the former chairman of the influential Ways and Means Committee, which writes tax law. Waters, of California, is a senior member of the House Financial Services Committee, which approved the recent overhaul of financial industry regulations and established new consumer protections.

Both Democrats have asked for trials before the elections. Rangel is accused of financial wrongdoing and misuse of his office, while Waters is charged with improperly helping a bank in which her husband owns stock.

The five Republicans on the 10-member committee signed a statement that accused the committee chairman, Democrat Zoe Lofgren of California, of stalling.

Lofgren was flying back to Washington for a House session and was not immediately available for comment.

A Senior Democratic aide told CBS News that Republicans did not consult with Lofgren about the letter and that they did not release it until she was in the air on a plane to dc from San Francisco. The release took Democrats by surprise, the aide said, since they were negotiating with Republicans to hold a hearing this week to schedule one or both of the trials.

The aide deemed the release "a blatantly political move."

The statement, issued by ranking committee Republican Jo Bonner of Alabama, said, "Members of the committee have repeatedly expressed their willingness and desire to move forward with public trials of these matters and have repeatedly made themselves available to the chairwoman for October settings."

The House may recess for the elections as early as this week. Bonner said, "In past congresses, committee members have returned to Washington during a recess in an effort to conclude pressing ethics matters."

Lofgren "has repeatedly refused to set either the Rangel or Waters trial before the November election," Bonner said.

Republicans signing the Bonner statement were Reps. K. Michael Conaway of Texas, Charles Dent of Pennsylvania, Gregg Harper of Mississippi and Michael McCaul of Texas.