Why Is This Happening Now Instead Of Two Years Ago ?

This story is based on two articles, one in the Washington Post on Friday, and one at Hot Air yesterday.  The article at the Washington Post points out that in early 2008 the House ethics committee began looking into the affairs of Charlie Rangel, the colorful Democratic representative from New York.  The two most serious charges have to do with unreported income and using congressional letterhead to raise funds for a private center named after him at City College of New York.  There will be a trial in September.  In preparation for that, the alleged violations are expected to be made public tomorrow.  I need to mention that this process was totally avoidable.

The Washington Post reports:

“Sources familiar with the case said that Rangel could have avoided this showdown by accepting the subcommittee’s findings. He was briefed on the allegations against him — as required by House rules — in recent weeks, and he rejected them.”

This is rather odd.  Hot Air reports:

“Rep. Charles Rangel’s chances of cutting an ethics deal are in jeopardy over allegations that he met privately with Ethics Committee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) Monday night without any Republican members of the bipartisan panel present.”

“Lofgren says she hasn’t spoken to Rangel since last Thursday, and sources close to Rangel deny that there was an attempt to cut a backroom deal with Lofgren. But Rangel’s attorneys met with Democratic ethics committee staff Monday, according to people close to the investigation.”

This may be a case of using words carefully.  If Rangel’s lawyers and Democratic aides met with Republicans present, this could jeopardize any sort of bipartisan ethics process. 

 Meanwhile, Representative Rangel is being challenged in a Democrat party primary by Adam Clayton Powell Jr’s son.  Ironically, in 1970 Charlie Rangel defeated Congressman Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. in a Democrat primary.  Adam Clayton Powell, Jr. was chairman of the Education and Labor Committee in 1961. As committee chairman he supported the passage of important social legislation, but was eventually removed from his seat by the Democratic members-elect of the 90th Congress following allegations of corruption.

It’s sad to see people who are supposed to serve the public misusing their positions.  We need to clean house in November and elect people who understand the concept of public service.  It is discouraging to see the number of ‘public servants’ who use their positions to amass personal wealth.