Charlie Rangels War: Rangel Negotiating or On Trial?

Apparently Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) is trying to negotiate a way out of the thirteen ethics violations he is charged with, even as the trial is underway. Reports are varied. Some say he struck a deal, others say they don't think so, but as news pops up by the minute, it seems today there is no deal.

Charlie Rangel

After pushing his opportunity to negotiate to the limits, House investigators "read out the thirteen alleged violations of ethics and federal law...." Here's a synopsis:

The charges involve four areas: Mr. Rangel’s solicitation of contributions to a school to be named in his honor at City College of New York; his errors and omissions on his House financial disclosure forms; his acceptance of rent-stabilized apartments in Harlem, including one for his campaign office; and his failure to report and pay taxes on rental income on a beach villa he owns in the Dominican Republic.

To add to the confusion, Rangel was not present when his misdeeds were publicly named. If he has cut a deal, it is not clear how many of the thirteen charges he has agreed to acknowledge.

The Democrat was trying to thread the needle by admitting to misconduct while insisting it was not on purpose, sources said.

His attempts to save his own skin by dragging out the negotiations infuriated many of his Democratic colleagues, some of whom said he was operating under the delusion that he might recapture the Ways and Means Committee chairmanship he was forced to give up last spring.

"If he were to be cleared, then it might have been possible, even in a lame duck session after the elections, to get it back," a source said, noting that Rangel always said giving up his gavel was temporary.

Rangel was hoping to convince probers that he did not deliberately avoid paying taxes, hide assets or trade legislative favors for donations to City College's planned Rangel Center, the sources said.

Read background on Rangel's culture of corruption here.

Luke Russert Charlie Rangel: Luke Russert Asks Questions No One Else will Ask

In the video, the late Tim Russert's son, Luke, is a reporter for MSNBC. Luke shocked Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) by asking the questions no one else from MSNBC or any member of the mainstream propaganda squad.

Charlie Rangel

Congressman Rangel was charged for, as yet, unnamed offenses, that began with the list below from the Washington Post titled Sleazy Does It. Who knows how the House Ethics Committee might decide to lighten Charlie's burden:

* Unpaid taxes: Rangel admitted he neglected to pay taxes on $75,000 in rental income from his villa in the Dominican Republic.

* Four rent-stabilized apartments: He leased the Harlem units, including one as an office — which is barred by state law.

* Undisclosed income: He failed to reveal to Congress more than $600,000 in assets and tens of thousands of dollars in income.

* Inappropriate fundraising: He wrote letters on official congressional stationery to solicit money to build the Rangel Center at CUNY.

* Pay-to-play: He preserved a tax shelter for an oil-drilling company, Nabors Industries, whose chief executive donated money to the Rangel Center.


* Breaking House rules: He stored his vintage Mercedes in the congressional garage.



Read more here.

As Mike Huckabee famously said: It's Easier to Defend Jeffrey Dahmer's Diet than Rangels Ethics.



Luke Russert and Charlie Rangel (video)
Related and Background:Charlie Rangel's Culture of Corruption

Robert Gibbs Jason Mattera on Constitutionality: Steny Hoyer and Jason Mattera on Tax Cheats

Two videos. In the first, Robert Gibbs has an encounter with a young conservative reporter, Jason Mattera at Jason Mattera.com. Gibbs tries to compare approval of Bush tax cuts with passing the mammoth health care monstrosity. Great example of Liberal math: Give people more money in their pay checks, help businesses make their payroll, and it's the equivalent of snatching liberty and privacy out of the hands of parents and grandparents,  and hijacking the futures of coming generations with health care mandates, against the will of the people

[Gibbs] The spending in health care is less than the $1.3 trillion Bush health cut.

[Mattera] Do you ever feel dirty inside defending this administration's deceits and deceptions?

In the second video Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-MD), House Majority Leader meets Jason Mattera. A snippet:

"How do you have the stones to tax Americans for not purchasing healh care when you have tax cheat Charlie Rangel writing legislation and tax cheat Tim Geithner enforcing it? You left-wingers have made hypocrisy an art form."

Great job Jason. Talk about stones! Jason has written a book: Obama Zombies: How the Liberal Machine Brainwashed my Generation. Buy it at JasonMattera.com

Linked by The Lonely Conservative - Thank you Karen!






Robert Gibbs Meets Jason Mattera on Health Care (video)
Steny Hoyer meets Jason Mattera on Tax Cheats (video)

Nancy Pelosi Grip Slipping? Democrat Caucus is Every Man for Himself Now?

A report out today says that Nancy is losing her grip...her power, among her Democrat Caucus. Understand that she is not losing "respect." No loss of respect, it's just that the House members are finding that an "every man for himself" strategy might work better for them in this election year.

But it’s making Pelosi’s life — and efforts to maintain Democratic unity — harder.

And it’s noteworthy, in part, because Pelosi’s signature strength has been a firmer hand than past Democratic leaders — an aptitude for wielding raw power in a consensus-minded caucus.

According to Politico, the Charlie Rangel Ethics Committee admonishment, demonstrates her waning authority:

But her inability — or unwillingness — to dictate when Rep. Charles Rangel would resign his Ways and Means Committee chairmanship and who would replace him is one sign that she is commanding the caucus with less authority.

And once Rangel did step down, Pelosi didn't get her choice for Rangel's replacement:

Her first choice to succeed him, Pete Stark of California, was rejected by the Ways and Means Committee members, as was her plan to split power on the committee between Stark and Rep. Sander Levin of Michigan. Pelosi’s backers said that what she really wanted was to avoid a fight for the gavel — and that she succeeded by refusing to apply a heavy hand.

Remember that Nancy stood behind Rangel, preferring to wait for the Ethics Committee to rule on Rangel's many other outstanding egregious behaviors, including tax evasions:

But politically vulnerable Democrats sent a message right back: They would dump him if she didn’t.

Rangel hasn't been her only problem lately:

Even on legislative matters, Pelosi has been subject to low-grade insurrections. She was unable to send a $15 billion Senate-passed jobs bill directly to the president because members of the Congressional Black Caucus, the conservative Blue Dog Coalition and the Transportation Committee objected to some items that were in the bill and some that were absent.

Rep. Sander Levitt is not the chair of the House Ways and Mean Committee, although Rangel still insists his step-down is only temporary, although House rules seem not have a avenue for "temporary" chairmanships.

Charlie Rangel Gives Up the Gavel? Rangel Steps Down from House Ways and Means Chair?

NBC is reporting that Rep. Charlie Rangel, the disgraced chair of the House Ways and Means Committee, will give up the Committee gavel as early as tonight. Rep. Sander Levin (D-MI) will be the temporary chairman. See update below.

Charlie Rangel

Some details still need to be ironed out, but sources said Rangel has been pushed to step down before the House voted on a bill to forcefully strip him of the coveted chairmanship.

Rangel has been under fire ever since an ethics committee released a report Thursday that found that he violated House rules by accepting two corporate-sponsored trips to the Caribbean. Source 

Update 3-3-10:
Rangel announced he is temporarily stepping down until the Ethics Committee probe is completed (after hell freezes over - been going on on multiple charges for a very long time - and this puts Rangel off the radar during elections).

He reiterated that the admonishment from the floor of the House for receiving gifts from lobbyists was the fault of his staff. Rangel said he didn't the corporations paid for the junkets. Take a look at this post from FeedYourADHD, with photos showing Rangel in a room surrounded with corporate sponsor posters.

From The Hill: Rep. Artur Davis (D-AL) asked for Rangel's resignation - more like demanded it.



Related Background on Charlie Rangel's many indescretions:
Charlie Rangel's Culture of Corruption
Easier to Defend Jeffrey Dahmer's Diet than Rangel's Ethics

Mike Huckabee Charlie Rangel: Easier to Defend Jeffrey Dahmer's Diet than Rangels Ethics: Charlie Rangel Annouces He Will Run for a 21st Term

There was never an ethics charge that any Democrat took seriously or with shame, and that's certainly the case with Rep. Charlie Rangel. Mike Huckabee told the crew at Fox and Friends Weekends that it's easier to defend cannabilist/murderer Jeffrey Dahmer's diet than it is to defend Charlie Rangel's Ethics.

Charlie lounging at his income-producing Dominican villa 

Income unreported to the IRS

Rangel, the Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee certainly has his "ways," and his "means." He has blamed his tax problems on his wife, claimed years of "hardship status" by reporting lowered income to retain ownership of a controlled-rent apartment in New York City, and let a private-sector firms, major payor Citibank, send him on a couple of Caribbean junkets, in violation of House Ethics rules. He blamed his staff for that one. Today, Rangel (D-NY) announced he will run for re-election for a 21st term in Congress - this two days after a formal House admonishment for his "lack of ethics"

With the House Ethics Committee finding that the Harlem Congressman was guilty, Democrats are beginning to speak out. Reps. Paul Hodes (D-NH), Gene Taylor (D-Miss) Bobbie Bright  (D-AL), and Mike Quigley want Teflon-Charlie to step down from his chairmanship. This from Rep. Hodes:

The citizens of his home state sent him here, that's their decision. But members of the Democratic Caucus made him chairman of that committee, and he should step down until all this is resolved.

The once "untouchable" Charlie Rangel (as we're told the White House refers to Rangel) is beginning to see the President withdraw support: Press Secretary Robert Gibbs says, the Prez sez, "rules are put in place for a reason and those rules can and must apply to each and every person." Now that's a unique thought.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi is tone-deaf. It's not yet time for her to hear the murmurs around her. She see's the Ethics problem but says "it was not something that jeopardized our country in anyway - this from a woman who spent millions in taxpayer monies to jet the skies, and treat her grandkids. These people are accustomed to others paying their way. A few Ethics rules will not deter them.

Pelosi did acknowledge, however, that Rangel has more than a couple of junkets to worry about, saying "there is more to Mr. Rangel's situation," and she looks forward to hearing from the Ethics Committee about other claims against him.

Such as:

The junkets, the rent-controlled apartments, the misreported income are not his only predicament. There's the mortgage at the Yacht club that was converted to an interest-free loan in violation of House rules, there's the claiming of two primary residences and qualifying for exemptions on each, there's a lie about the value of a Florida property, some unethical fundraising for a charity in his name, and the illegal use of the House parking garage to house his older model, unlicensed Mercedes-Benz, and a now infamous "shelter loophole" to benefit a corporation that was a heavy donor to the City College of New York. Read about Charlie's own culture of corruption here.

Here is the video of Mike Huckabee talking about Jeffry Dahmer's diet and Charlie Rangel's ethics.






Mike Huckabee on Fox and Friends Weekend on Charlie Rangel's Ethics (video)

Charlie Rangel's Culture of Corruption

Rep. Charlie Rangel is one of the most corrupt Democrats in the party's culture of corruption. I first wrote that he would rank right up there after Rep. Barney Franks and Senator Chris Dodd. After researching the extent of his dishonorable transactions, I almost moved him to first place, but Franks and Dodd deserve "most corrupt" for their bankrupting of the country with the Community Reinvestment Act (ACT) and the housing meltdown. If we looked into the past of all Democrats in Congress today, would we find anything like what you will read about Charlie, who has at least twelve questionable transgressions looming. See 3-3-10 update below.

 Charlie Rangel

The first trangression is Rangel's ownership of four rent-controlled apartments in New York, one of which housed his campaign headquarters. New York City regulations prohibit businesses in rent-controlled properties. Rangel had used the apartment for business for over 10 years.

To own rent-controlled properties, Rangel had to keep his income below $175,000 annually. Anything over $175,000 made him "ineligible "as a hardship case." (Nope, it's not a joke!)

From New York Magazine:

The first became known in July 2008, when reports surfaced that Rangel owned four rent-controlled apartments in New York City, and he was running a business out of at least one of them. 

On the tenth floor of the Lenox Terrace in Harlem (where [New York Governor] David Paterson also has a rent-stabilized place) the congressman (whose net worth the Times estimates at $566,000 to $1.2 million) keeps a studio apartment for use as an office, for which he pays $660 a month.

Then on the sixteenth floor, he has combined a studio ($630), a one-bedroom ($1,329), and a two-bedroom ($1,329) into rather opulent spread that overlooks Manhattan. [a 2,500 square foot home]

Quoth the Times:

Mr. Rangel’s residence, which has custom moldings and dramatic archways, is decorated with Benin Bronze statues and antique carved walnut Italian chairs, and was featured in the 2003 book “Style and Grace: African Americans at Home,” by Michael Henry Adams (Bulfinch Press)… Mr. Rangel’s wife, Alma, is quoted describing the congressman as “the shopper in this family” who has a penchant for hunting down antiques like cut-glass champagne flutes and walnut chests to furnish their elegant abode.

The rent for all four of Rangel's apartments totaled $3,894 dollars in July 2008. Market price should have been closer to $8,000 a month. The New York Times points out that other New Yorkers are allowed only one apartment, while Rangel has four.

The bottom line of the rent controlled apartments amounted to about $30,000.00 a year owed. The owner of the apartment is Olnick Organization, from which Rangel received thousands of dollars in campaign contributions from one of the owners. The U.S.House didn't even reprimand Rangel. He was let off the hook by a vote of 254 to 138. I can find nothing conclusive that indicates Rangel will have to pay the underpaid rent receipts.

The second transgression is Rangel's beachfront villa he owns in the Dominican Republic at the Punta Cana Yacht Club. He rents it out when he is not in residence for about $500 a night in off-season, $1,100 a night in high season. Charlie didn't report the $75,000 income he received on the property. Rangel report income of $5,000 in 2004 and 2005, and no income at all in 2006 and 2007. He said he didn't know the income was taxable! This from the man who writes tax legislation for the Nation.

Rangel blamed this transgression on his wife. Said he had no idea he receive income on the property, and said she's the manager. And then there is the problem of the "language barrier." The people there were always speaking Spanish, said the Congressman.

So this transgression is apparently over. In September 2008, Rangel paid back taxes of $10,800.00 for at least three years on the Dominican property.

The income issue was sensitive for Charlie, because, you know, he had to show his hardship status to keep the New York City apartments.

The third trangression: Rangel's $52,000 mortgage at the Yacht Club was converted to an interest-free loan in 1990 - "violating House rules on gifts."

The fourth transgression: This cheeky guy also claimed a Washington, D.C. home as his primary residence from 1971-2000 and claimed homestead exemption on it. Problem is, that residence did not qualify for the exemption because he also claims homestead on his four rent controlled apartments in New York City.

The fifth transgression: Questions about the value of a Florida property in Sunny Isles.

The sixth transgression: On the House Ethics Committee's radar is Rangel's fund raising for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at City College of New York. An attorney and donor is a principal ower of the Punta Cana Yacht Club. This transgression includes the use of congressional stationary to solicit donors.

The seventh transgression: In the Fall of 2008, Rangel promised to amend his tax returns and act like a taxpayer rather than  a tax evader. The deadline for doing was May 15, 2009. As of July 2009 amended returns had not been filed.

In the mean time, Rangel will file amended tax returns. While last week his lawyer Lanny Davis said Rangel would only owe city and state back taxes, now Davis says Rangel will also owe federal taxes (characterized as a "modest amount"). However, this is where it gets tricky: Per the NY Times, "Mr. Rangel’s failure to pay all his federal taxes could be politically significant, since he leads the House committee responsible for the federal tax code."

The eighth trangression: Caribbean trips (junckets) in 2007 and 2008 paid for by an unnamed corporation that was lobbying Rangel's Congressional Committee. Today, February 25th, The House Ethics Committee said they will "admonish" Rangel on Friday, February 26th.

The nineth transgression: An article in the New York Post in September 2008 said Rangel has been using a House of Representatives parking garage for years as free storage space for his old Mercedes-Benz - "a violation of congressional rules and a potential new tax woe...." House rules prohibit the use of garage for storage for longer than 45 days. The car has been sitting there for "years." The free space is consider "imputed income" and taxes must be paid on the space, at a value of $290 per month. The vehicle also does not have a license plate. Do we think Charlie will be forced to pay up? Nah.

The tenth transgression: In August 2009, Rangel amended his 2007 tax disclosures to show more than $500,000 in unreported income. He still lives in his rent-controlled apartments with hardship status. The New York Times claims he did not report a federal credit union account with a balance of between $250,000 and $500,000, as well as investments and stock - AND they charge the he did not pay property taxes on two New Jersey properties.

The eleventh transgression: Another problem with donations to the City College of New York school named after Rangel. A "tax shelter loophole" allowing tens of millions of dollars in tax breaks. Under Rangel's Ways and Means Committee, Nabors Industries has been allowed to open an outlet in Bermuda as a foreign corporation. The Nabors CEO, Eugene Isenberg gave the Rangel Center $100,000. Four other companies also benefitted from the loophole.

A bit of levity, Rep. John R. Carter (R-TX) introduced the Rangel Rule Act of 2009 (H.R. 735) stating that all taxpayers would be relieved of pay penalties and interest on back taxes, in honor of Charlie.

The twelfth transgression: Several newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune, the L.A.Times, the Washington Post and the AP charged that Rangel received campaign contributions for holding up pending legislation that prevent $2.9 billion of U.S. Tax dollars from going to Diageo (wine and spirits corporation) - and dubbed it the Diageo Rum Bailout. The Hill reported that the figure was $3.0 billion in bailouts. Diageo is the world's largest liquor distiller. Diageo was the recipient of TARP funds.

Charles Rangel, the master of tax legislation, proposed the largest tax increase in American history in 2007...dubbed the "Mother of all tax Bills" by Rangel the tax evader. The bill, had it passed, would have brought a tax increase of $3.5 trillion.

Can anyone explain why this man is not in prison, and at least, why he has not lost his chairmanship? Oh...yes, of course, he's a Democrat and they never eat their own.

Update 3-3-10:

Rangel announced today in a one-line statement that he will temporarily step down from his House Ways and Means chairmanship while the Ethics Committee completes their probe into everything you read above. This takes Charlie off the radar for the November elections for his fellow Congressman. Rangel needs to fade into the background for awhile. I doubt we hear anymore from Ethics until next year.

Linked by And So I Go: Yesterday, Today and Tomorrow - Thank you Brenda!

Charlie Rangel We Are So Close to National Health Care - The Truth Outs!

At 4:45 PM EST The truth is out: Charlie Rangel began his comments at the Health Care summit with:

"We are so close to National Health Care." 

Nevertheless, the President and every other Democrat has taken great umbrage at Republican "rhetoric" characterizing the Democrat proposal as government health care, or a government takeover of health care. Those words by Republicans, the President said was "rhetoric."

Unfortunately, the camera didn't pan the room, so no way to know the reaction to Rangel's words, but indeed, with reconciliation, which Obama indcated late today that Americans want because they believe a majority vote is all that should be required, and Americans are not concerned about Senate procedure. We will have National Health Care unless Dems can't muster the vote.

Just before Dick Durbin spoke today, Obama said:

...the American people are not interested in procedures inside the Senate. They want a vote. Most Americans think a majority vote makes sense.

By the way, Pelosi ended with the comment that there is absolutely no taxpayer funded abortion in the bill and benefits to Seniors will not be cut.

See the Live Blogging here.