Rep. Charlie B. Rangel (D.,NY) was censored today by the House of Representatives Ethics Committee, a committee consisting of 10 House members, 5 Republicans and 5 Democrats. The recommendation of censure vote was 9-1.
He was found guilty of 11 of 13 ethical misconduct violations ranging from tax evasion, improper fundraising and failure to report income. As stated by Chairwoman, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D.,Ca), there was "clear and convincing evidence" to support 11 counts of malfeasance. The formal vote of censure by the entire House will be conducted after Thanksgiving. If the majority of the House vote for censure, Charlie will be the first member of the House to be censored in 27 years. In 1983, two House members Crane (R.,Il) and Studds (D.,Ma)...I'm not making this name up...were censored by the full House for the congressional page sex scandal.
What does censure mean? Simply, the House Committee issues a formal reprimand to an individual, Charlie, by an authoritative body, The House of Representatives. Censure is one step away from total expulsion from the House. The last time a House member was expelled was 2006, Ney of (R.,Oh) in connection with the Jack Abramoff scandal.
For the last 40 years, the octogenarian Charlie represented the good folks in Harlem. They were his own. His roots were there. He fought hard and true for them with apparent class and dignity. So what happened along the way that resulted in Charlie's skullduggery and resultant public humiliation? Hubris or arrogance is what happened. He got greedy, sloppy and then got caught. In doing so, Charlie befouled his office and the public trust.
Some of these folks in power, Charlie included, feel entitled, exempt from the rule of law. Happens all the time to public and not so public figures. Next up on the Ethics Committee hot seat is Maxine Waters (D.,Ca.) for alleged wrongdoing involving a bank and her husband. The pipeline of creepy slimeballs is seemingly always full.
Thinking of poor Charlie reminds me of the "Queen of Mean", another New Yorker, Leona Helmsly, who infamously said of paying taxes, "that's for little people." As Rep. Michael McCall (R.,Tx) stated to the Committee and to a pathetic looking Charlie, "...the failure to pay taxes for 17 years...what is that?"
There is some good news for Charlie. He keeps his job in Congress until he retires or is not re-elected and he wasn't expelled from office. The bad news is, "Charlie, line one is holding for you, it's the IRS." OMG.
Sad, another good man ruined by his own hand. Threw it all away. And for what? a few extra thousands of dollars.
No comments:
Post a Comment