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Obama: Rangel case troubling; some Dems say resign
LAURIE KELLMAN, Associated Press Writer
Published: 03:47 a.m., Saturday, July 31, 2010


WASHINGTON (AP) — Rep. Charlie Rangel is getting sympathy from some fellow Democrats but scant support from others as he faces trial on several ethics charges.

President Barack Obama says he hopes the 80-year-old lawmaker can end his career with dignity and some House Democrats want him to resign — now.

Obama, speaking on the issue for the first time, praised Rangel for serving his New York constituents over the years, but said he found the ethics charges "very troubling."

"He's somebody who's at the end of his career. I'm sure that what he wants is to be able to end his career with dignity. And my hope is that it happens," Obama said in an interview that aired Friday on "CBS Evening News with Katie Couric."

As House members headed home for the August recess, they wrestled with how to handle the ethics brouhaha three months before the midterm elections. Republicans already were eager to use Rangel's problems as a way to tar other Democrats on the issue of corruption.

A half-dozen Democrats either conditionally or outright called for Rangel's resignation Friday...................>>>>..................>>>>................http://www.timesunion.com/news/article/Obama-Rangel-case-troubling-some-Dems-say-resign-597027.php

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Rangel ditches ethics hearing
By S.A. MILLER, Post Correspondent
Last Updated: 7:32 AM, November 16, 2010
Posted: 2:03 AM, November 16, 2010

WASHINGTON -- Rep. Charles Rangel shockingly walked out on Day One of his House ethics trial yesterday -- leaving stunned committee members no choice but to deliberate without him.

"I'm not being treated fairly," the Harlem Democrat complained, saying the committee was needlessly rushing to finish the case this year and forcing him to stand trial without a lawyer.

"Fifty years of public service is on the line," he added.

"I respectfully withdraw from these proceedings," he said moments before his dramatic exit.

But neither Rangel's protest nor his absence from the proceedings stopped the panel from agreeing to the "uncontested facts" of the case and beginning closed-door deliberations on the 13 charges of misconduct against him.

The discussions lasted most of yesterday and were expected to continue today. A final verdict is expected by year's end.

The case is the culmination of a more than two-year investigation that found a "pattern" of rule-breaking by the 40-year congressman and, until recently, chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee.

"There's a lot of pain that I feel, because I've fought in the wars. I've prosecuted with the US Attorney's Office. I've served as the legislator in the state," Rangel, a Korean War vet, said in a 10-minute plea to delay the trial.

"I am so proud of my record in the Congress. I love this Congress. I love this country. I think I'm entitled to more than is being suggested," he told the four Democrats and four Republicans on the subcommittee panel hearing the case.

Rangel spent about $2 million on his legal team but said his lawyers quit over concerns that he couldn't come up with another $1 million for the trial................>>>>......................>>>>...............http://www.nypost.com/p/news/national/rangel_ditches_ethics_hearing_EGFJA5Yk3k4StC3pT1IDdM

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Washington (CNN) – A House ethics subcommittee found Rep. Charlie Rangel, D-New York, guilty Monday on multiple violations of House rules.

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Rangel found guilty of 11 ethics violations
By Rachel Rose Hartman

A House Ethics subcommittee announced Tuesday that they have found Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) guilty of 11 of ethics violations.

Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) said the committee rolled two charges together, meaning that Rangel was ultimately charged with 12, not 13 charges as originally stated. She added the committee was split on one of the 12-- identified as a charge of harming the credibility of Congress.

Rangel walked out of his House trial yesterday in protest over being unable to afford legal representation. Charges included improperly soliciting donations for his center and New York's City College, a failure to provide complete financial disclosure information, and improper use of a rent-controlled apartment for campaign purposes.

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unable to afford legal representation