Rangel to keep gavel — for now By: John Bresnahan and Jonathan Allen March 1, 2010 05:09 AM EST
Charles Rangel met with New York Democrats on Saturday in an effort to save embattled Gov. David Paterson. But the meeting could just as easily have been about Rangel himself.
The House ethics committee decision to admonish Rangel for taking two corporate-sponsored trips to the Caribbean has turned up the heat on the powerful Ways and Means Committee chairman — with even House Speaker Nancy Pelosi saying that Rangel’s actions don’t pass the “smell test.”
Several House Democrats have now joined Republicans in calling for Rangel to lose his gavel, and The New York Times has chimed in, saying the “arrogance” Rangel showed in the wake of Thursday’s ethics committee ruling provides “one more reason” for Pelosi to “stop protecting him and relieve him of his crucial role as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee.”
In an interview with ABC’s “This Week,” Pelosi acknowledged that “what Mr. Rangel has been admonished for is not good.”
But the speaker also said that Rangel’s participation in the corporate-sponsored trips wasn’t something that had “jeopardized our country in any way,” and she made it clear that she has no intention of taking away Rangel’s chairmanship unless and until the ethics committee determines that he’s guilty of a number of ethics violations it’s currently investigating. ...................>>>>......................>>>>.................http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0210/33668.html
Rangel to Step Down From Ways and Means Post Amid Ethics Probe
Embattled Rep. Charlie Rangel announced Wednesday that he plans to temporarily step down as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee amid a wide-ranging ethics probe.
Embattled Rep. Charlie Rangel announced Wednesday that he plans to temporarily step down as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee amid a wide-ranging ethics probe.
The announcement came as Republicans readied a formal resolution to strip the Harlem Democrat of his chairmanship, and as several Democrats began to peel away and call for Rangel to step down from his leadership post.
The New York Democrat made clear that he initiated the move. He said he sent a letter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi Wednesday morning asking her to grant him a "leave of absence" until the ethics committee investigation into his activities is completed.
Rangel spent the last week defying calls for him to step down. He adamantly denied reports Tuesday that he was planning to step aside, telling reporters who asked whether he would stay in his position, "You bet your life on it. And I don't lie to the press." ............................>>>>......................>>>>....................http://www.foxnews.com/politic.....s+Probe.opinionPrint
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"Temporarily" step down? He must be thrown out of Congress. Take him out in cuffs.
