Until he was charged with ethics violations, Charlie Rangel was the Chairman of the US House of Representatives Ways And Means Committee, one of the most powerful bodies in all of US government. They are, for example, responsible for our federal tax code.
He is also a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus.
He is also a military hero ... recipient of a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for sevice in the Korean War.
In 2008 he was charged by the US House Ethics Committee of ethics violations and failure to comply with tax laws (ie, TAX EVASION!). This month he was convicted on 11 of 12 house rules violations charges and has now been recommended to receive censure. Among the penalties recommended by the Ethics Committee was repaying taxes he failed to pay.
I don't believe his failure to pay taxes was from a devious intent but it surely is both negligent and irresponsible. It would be bad enough if he had 'average' responsibilities and roles in the House but he was chairman of the very committee responsible for the US Tax Code! OMG! As for all the other charges not related to tax evasion, whether one would consider all or any of them to be very serious, the fact that he's been convicted of 11(!) House rules violations doesn't speak well for his integrity and honesty does it? What does it say about his integrity that he allowed all this to happen without recognizing the wrongness? What does it say about his integrity that he fought against the charges strongly to the end?
Perhaps most sadly, the only contriteness we've seen from him was AFTER he was convicted. Seems to me a man of integrity would have owned up to the wrongness immediately and not spend two years denying he did anything wrong when it was so clear he had. What about showing some respect to the institution and to his colleagues by admitting the wrongness and apologizing? He doesn't say he didn't do those things, only that it wasn't intentional. Well, Mr. Rangel, that doesn't make them less wrong sir.
Apparently all the things of which he was convicted were 'accidental'. In that case, what is he? Incompetent? Irresponsible? Both? And he led one of the most powerful bodies in American politics. I feel sad for him. And then there's the loss of respect for and integrity of The House of Representatives. The House salvaged some respect by dealing with his misdeeds responsibly.
He is a man who earned and deserves much respect, regardless. Nevertheless, this is a sad way to end his career. It's truly sad that a distinguished career like his will be remembered significantly for this (minor by comparison) disgrace.
By the way, Ms. Pelosi was correct when she took over as Speaker of The House; there's much in 'the swamp' that needed to be cleaned up. I just don't think she was thinking of her own party at the time.
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