Rep. Charles Rangel announced Wednesday morning he will temporarily give up his chairmanship of the Ways and Means Committee in wake of a House ethics committee inquiry into corporate funded trips to the Caribbean.
In brief remarks before cameras in a House press gallery, Rangel said he had sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi “asking her to grant me a leave of absence” until the ethics committee completes its investigation. Rangel in theory left the door open to reclaiming his gavel if he is cleared by the ethics panel at a later date.
With Rangel stepping aside, it’s not clear who will take the chairmanship, and Democrats have not decided who will oversee the powerful Ways and Means Committee. Rangel declined to answer any questions about his departure or his replacement.
He would only say that the situation “is bringing so much attention to the press and in order to avoid my colleagues having to defend me during their elections.”
Wearing a bowtie and flashing his trademark smile at times, Rangel told reporters that answering reporters’ questions would “distract” him from working on health-care overhaul legislation and a the jobs bill.
Rangel looked to be exiting the press conference, but suddenly stopped and added, “From the very, very beginning I offered this to Speaker Pelosi.”
(Read more: http://www.politico.com/)
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8 Responses
What’s the big deal. He isn’t even accused of a felony? And he’s know to keep bad company (you know, all those other New York Democrats)
Not accused of a felony? akuperma, have you been reading the New York Post? Did you ever hear of tax evasion? What do you think this comes under? Big boys’ trouble?!
Ah the double standard of Congressional wrongdoing. Had this been a non democrat party member, he would have been forced to resign in disgrace.
#3, That is not necessarily true.
That is very true MoshiachNow01. Do you follow the news?
did someone just bring a raaya from the nypost?
Yes I did. For a few weeks last year the New York Post was doing an excellent job covering the story. The lead reporter was Frederic U. Dicker, their Albany chief.
This is a scam.
He is not leaving, just maintaining a low profile till after the elections.