Why is Charlie Rangel still in Congress?
In yet another instance of "Why is S/he Still In Congress?",
let's examine Charlie Rangel, representative from New York, whose slew of
after-the-fact amendments to the public record and his tax returns show a pattern of
deceit unacceptable to anyone -- anyone besides the voters in his district and the
leadership of the Congress, that is.
Deceit is far less ugly a term than, say, tax evasion. But when Rangel neglected
to report income on his rental Dominican Republic villa in 2006 and 2007, whilst the
manager of the villa reported its consistent booking between December and April each
year, is that not what the congressman appears guilty of?
(read the article)
When Rangel claims "primary" his residence in a rent-controlled Harlem brownstone (assumably for the tax benefit or better mortgage terms)
while actually living in another Harlem apartment complex, is he again not
guilty of some combination of tax evasion, falsifying public records, or just plum lying to the country?
(read the article)
Rangel, incidentally, is the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee -- the committee that writes the tax code.
Between these alleged infractions and others regarding failure to report upwards of $780,000 in personal assets and failure to
disclose upwards of $500,000 in holdings on the public record (as required by law of all congressmen), when will Rangel be held
accountable? He is, certainly, innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, but in the realm of politics where the evidence
is clear and his leadership position in this very arena very troubling, when will Congressional leaders remove Rangel from his
chairmanship (unless and until the investigation clears him), and when will the voters in his district finally realize that he
isn't one of them and doesn't represent their values?
And if he's found to have committed the infractions alleged, will he be expelled from the Congress?
Honest questions.
- HQ staff
Related stories:
Roll Call: Rangel Brushes Off Ethics Charges
Roll Call: Rangel Probe Hits 6 Months; When Will It End?
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