(CNN) – Under fire for allegations of ethical violations, New York Democratic Rep. Charlie Rangel told reporters Monday that he has no intention of stepping down as chairman of the key tax writing committee in the House.
"I don't see what purpose that would serve," Rangel said as he left a press conference with a group of Mayors. "I don't think reporters should be in the position of removing Chairmen.”
Recently press reports raised questions about Rangel's support for a tax break for a company that contributed to an academic center bearing his name and his campaign fund’s $80,000 payment to his son for designing his campaign Web site. The House ethics committee is already investigating Rangel for failing to pay taxes on a vacation home, using a rent controlled apartment for his political committee, and his use of official congressional stationary to solicit funds for the academic center.
Asked if the ethics committee should investigate the latest allegations, Rangel replied, "they should investigate everything that's been said."
Lashing out at the most recent report appearing in Politico that Rangel paid his son $80,000 to design his campaign Web site, a fee that experts say was legal but excessively high, Rangel said, "I think the reporter should crawl from under his rock and apologize to my son."
New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg meanwhile praised Rangel and said he continues to be a valuable ally for New York City.
From CNN Politics
© 2012 Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
| Advertising practices | Advertise with us | About us | Work for us | Help
Gee, a crooked Democratic politician. He should resign his House seat,........and then move to Illinois so he could be apointed to fill Obama's Senate seat. That's how the Democrats do things here.
Too bad NYC voters don't have the courage of those in Louisiana. hey did to Jefferson what should be done to Rangel. Of course, we won't count on Pelosi for any moral guidence of this front. Remember the the chairman of the tax writing committee also couldn't even get his taxes right, underpaying by thousands of dollars until he got caught.
Guess this is exempt from "change we can believe in"
CHARLIE AND JEFFERSON FORM NEW ORLEANS ,, NEITHER ONE HAS DONE ANYTHING WRONG ,,,, EXCEPT GET CAUGHT
rangel is over 75 and should be forced to retire.
The leading Democrat, Obama lied, grabbed big corporate money and used questionable methods, and his followers took the stand that "it was OK as long as we got him in office". It is now policy – a continuation of the Bush policy that lying is no big deal.
Obama is beyond criticism and morality, why is it any different here?
Remember Animal Farm? Once the pigs got in power they ended up looking more and more like the evil they replaced.
Question your leaders.
Typical Clintonian-Democrat...
...caught red-handed in the cookie jar and has the audacity to put the onus on YOU to purge him, because his ego simply won't allow anything else. At least lowly old Nixon had the decency to step down. Another case in point: William "Cold Cash" Jefferson... "yeah I was caught with a small fortune in ill-gotten gains in my freezer, but I'm not stepping down for anyone." Scumbag.
You gotta pull these scumbags out kicking and screaming as they claw at the carpets and door jams and anything else they can hold onto to keep from being removed.
Dean in Florida December 8th, 2008 12:56 pm ET
Of course he's not stepping down!
Being unethical is a prerequisite for a Democrat politician…starting with the president-elect.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You're absolutely right.
Whereas an undeclared illegal war which has cost the lives of three quarters of a million Iraqi women, children and other non-combatants is ethical.
Who are these nuts? Do they not know that the economy is in recession? Who cares about Rangel asking for a tax break for some center that bears his name? He cannot outright give it to them . So What..!!! Get a Life ! Please !.. Either help or shut up!
Time to go Charlie! The Dems have hopefully a new focus and attitude and you are not needed to whine on behalf of Democrats.
Let's get rid of Rangel, Barney Frank, and Chris Dodd. They are all crooked.
Republicans have operated in a similar manner for eight years and more, just look at Ted "convicted" Stevens. No one was calling for their removal from a chairmanship. At least he was not sending notes to congressional pages or performanig fancy footwork in a bathroom stall.
THat why we are faceing all kind of problems,so many people think they can live above the law. Houston tex!!!!!
If he was a republican there would already be impeachment petitions
Scott from NYC and snicker, snicker and Independent, that old Bush lie about the WMD's is just "OLD".
First off, Clnton was not impeached for the sex acts, he was impeached for LYING UNDER OATH.
Ever hear of Scooter Libby genius, he is the guy who got nailed for the Valerie Plame myth, but just as Rove states, the one who actually did it is walking the streets and nobody says bleep about him.
Here are a few EXACT QUOTES from your beloved DEMOCRATS and WMD's, enjoy while sipping your kool-aid:
"I am absolutely convinced that there are weapons...I saw evidence back in 1998 when we would see the inspectors being barred from gaining entry into a warehouse for three hours with trucks rolling up and then moving those trucks out." - Clinton's Secretary of Defense William Cohen in April of 2003
Anyone that claims they are a Democrat or a Republican or part of any other this or that political party are idiots. You just don't get it. The problem with this country is that you need to realize you are Americans, first and foremost.......stop taking sides.
Dang I thought you was innocent until proven guilty .... blood thirsty folks out there ready to hang this man ..... and we know how faulty information could be (Remember Iraq); lets complete the investigation prior to hanging the man ...
The reason why Repukes get hammered on ethics charges and Democrats don't, is because Democrats don't claim to be above corruption while the "holier than thou" Republicans do. Republicans are ALWAYS hiding behind the "law". It is O.K. for Democrats to bend the rules because they care for the common, poor man. Rangel is no different...anyway Bush lied about W.M.D.'s It is also Bush's fault that Rangel is in hot water.
Obama '12
Let the Ethics committees look into his situation & throw him out or exonerate him
Another typical Washington political crook who deserves to go. He believe he's above the law as many of them do. Look at Senator Stevens from Alaska. Another Politican who thought he too was above the law.
Anyway, New Yorkers are tired of Rep. Rangel and I'm not sure what Mayor Bloomberg is thinking with his statement. I bet if it was a Republican who did what Rep. Rangel did he would be all over TV stating he/she should resign. What a hypocrit...
He should step down. He's "dirty."
".....his campaign fund’s $80,000 payment to his son for designing his campaign Web site. "
WHAT.
Ok, as an IT Administrator, even I would expect the website to be revolutionary for $80k. My god, people are losing their homes and the economy is struggling to get out from under the weight of two illegal wars and a government lead by corporations, and this guy has the cahones to pay his own son $80k?
what we are dealing with is a low news period between holidays, so the media is digging for anything they can to blow it up into a headline story.
I agree, throw him AND Chris Dodd under the bus!
Or, it is business as usual.
Rangel may now have his chance to implement the draft. Standby dems. This will only be the beginning!
Now that Hillary is stepping down as NY Senator did Rangel loose his political cover?
I don't know which of the 2 are the worst at good ole boy politics but at least one of them will be gone. I would imagine NY would benefit from both vacancies but certainly NOT having Hillary will be a big benefit.