Charlie Rangel indicted for 13 ethics violations
While trying to follow the Charlie Rangel saga on my Blackberry during breaks at work I have to admit that it was an up and down day for those of us who consider the ethics of a member of the Congress of the utmost import.
First came word that Charlie Rangel had reached an agreement with the Ethics Committee and would avoid indictment and a public trial. This news was unwelcome to say the least. But then, a couple of hours later, I learned that this agreement was just a tentative agreement and that until the Ethics committee actually voted to accept it the process was going to move forward. This news gave me hope that justice still had a chance in this case, but I was still anxious about the possibility that the Ethics Committee would cave in and help Charlie Rangel save face. This was soon followed by the news that the Ethics Committee had read off 13 ethics violations that Charlie Rangel was alleged to have committed.
Still, Charlie Rangel hoped that if he admitted to some of these violations that some type of deal could be reached. That was not to be; in the end the four Republicans held firm and refused to agree to the terms of Charlie Rangel’s agreement and he has been formally indicted on all 13 ethics violations.
While the fact that a member of the House could have been involved in numerous violations of ethics is never good news, it is certainly good news that the Ethics Committee did not cave in at the last hour to wipe out two years worth of investigations just to let Charlie Rangel save a little face.
Charlie Rangel now has two choices; he can either resign, if he resigns the Ethics Committee will not be able to pursue charges against him: or he can stand and fight these charges.
Considering that Charlie Rangel was willing to admit to some of these violations in order to avoid trial we are left with the impression that he is probably guilty of some of the violations. Why would he be willing to accept some blame if he was truly blameless? This isn’t just one or two ethics violations which could possibly be chalked up to sloppiness, the fact that there are thirteen violations makes it seem inevitable that he will be found guilty of at least some of the charges.
Taking this into account, it seems that the only viable option that Charlie Rangel has is to resign from the Congress. And we can bet that many vulnerable Democrats– and party leadership– will be pressuring Charlie Rangel to resign so that a protracted trial will not hamper the Democrats chances to maintain control of the Congress. The last thing that Democrats want– or need– is an ethics trial during the campaigns for the November elections.
It is going to be interesting to see which Democrats come to his defense and which Democrats– Nancy Pelosi in particular– call for his resignation. Nancy Pelosi promised to “drain the swamp” of corruption, but up until this point she has stood behind Charlie Rangel.
Can she still stand behind him now? We know for certain that if Charlie Rangel were a Republican she would already have tried to “drain the swamp” of this corrupt politician before he ever made it to trial.
As of right now, Charlie Rangel insists that he will not resign and states that he will run for re-election. While I believe that he should resign, part of me hopes that his stubbornness will not permit him to step down. Let this be an issue heading into the November midterm election, and let Democrats take a stand as being either for an indicted member of their own party, or being for ending corruption in Washington– even if the offender is one of their own.
America's Watchtower 
The sad thing is….there are still idiots who would vote for him, even after all this! I swear….some people have no brains.
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That is truly the worse part of this whole thing!
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I find it very disturbing that someone who has clearly been busted and caught in the act of wrongdoing can be so ready to run again for his political office. Even more disturbing is exactly what trisho said in her comment. Some people will still vote for the man, regardless of what he has done. And we wonder why Congress can’t get anything positive done for the country? The Charlie Rangel tale should give us the first clue.
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Even if he decided not to resign you would think that he would at least decide not to run for re-election, this would allow him to fade into the distance.
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It’s unfolding pretty much as I thought. Rangel won’t step aside, and the Democrats can’t seem to be weak in letting him off the hook. It may hurt the Dems nationally, but they’ll win Rangel’s district.
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I can live with that result!
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What a crook…and he’s pushing fro Mandatory National Service!
A bill introduced in the House of Representatives by Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., would reinstate a compulsory military draft during wartime and require U.S. citizens not selected for military duty to perform a “national-service obligation” – as defined by President Obama – for a minimum of two years.
Rangel introduced the Universal National Service Act, or H.R. 5741, on July 15. The measure was referred to the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel on July 23.
http://www.wnd.com/?pageId=184325
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Given the growing number of hotspots that require (or soon will) military attention, and the fact that our armed forces are already stretched thin, I sometimes wonder if conscription — even limited — may be necessary. If we start now, we are less likely to have to throw barely-trained troops into the thick of it.
I don’t like the idea, but I’m afraid the realities of war (or, even, of maintaining peace/freedom) might require it.
However, a “national-service obligation” – particularly as defined by the Big O or his “progressive” cronies — raises the hackles on my neck and sends up a big red flag.
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The idea of conscription scares the hell out of me, but as we see more and more countries push the limits to see how Barack Obama will react it make you wonder if this is something that could happen. I honestly believe that if Obama is pushed, he will back down in the face of all of our enemies. And that might scare me even more than conscription does.
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