The House ethics committee, which for over a year has been investigating alleged financial misconduct by Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY), voted unanimously to expand the probe, it announced today.
The New York Post reports:
Now, it has added Rangel's restatements to his financial disclosure forms, which The Post first reported. He had to include assets that he previously failed to make public.
In August, Rangel amended his disclosure forms for the years 2002-2007 after he failed to reveal hundreds of thousands of dollars in assets, including rental income from a house in Harlem.
The statement of the ethics panel, which can be read here, says the investigative subcommittee has issued almost 150 subpoenas and interviewed 34 witnesses related to the Rangel matter.
The vote of the ethics committee comes just a day after the GOP introduced a resolution to demand Rangel give up his chairmanship of the Ways and Means Committee. Democrats blocked the resolution in a party-line vote, referring it to the ethics committee.
TPMmuckraker's roundup of the charges against Rangel is here.

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soupson52
October 8, 2009 5:32 PM
I do not mind at all having them go after him. It is amusing to see the repubs digging in, though. They do have a problem, I think: his district would elect another Democrat to replace him. They know who's fer'em and who's agin'em.
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wattpuppy
October 8, 2009 6:47 PM in reply to soupson52
You completely miss the important point. It's about corruption. The guy is rotten to the core. Though I detest liberals in general, I respect those who are playing by the rules. What's wrong with you?
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soupson52
October 8, 2009 5:37 PM
There is this: at least his crimes didn't leave a trail of blood and tears a and widows and orphans. He didn't steal enough to force the country into a depression then retire to his "ranch."
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NYC Cat
October 8, 2009 5:45 PM
I live in Rangel's District; and have liked him for many years.
I understand that this is awkward for the leadership, because
the man is so well liked, in both N.Y. and Washington. But come on! This is so clearly a case of incompetence, if not out-right criminality, the man simply must vacate the Chair of the Ways and Means Committee. The Dems will be beaten bloody by this next year.
Sorry Charlie, time to go.
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reboot923
October 10, 2009 9:48 AM in reply to NYC Cat
I totally agree with your argument. Rangel has played fast and loose with his finances and now is the time to pay the piper. As a Democrat, I don't want him leading Ways and Means. Unfortunately I've heard that there really isn't a strong person to replace him. He is definitely a political liability in 2010.
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dougom
October 8, 2009 6:45 PM
Maybe it's the bow tie. My Dad always said, "Never trust a guy who wears bow ties."
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hawaiian
October 8, 2009 10:11 PM
What Charlie need is a Obama "Ethics Waver".
I am not sure of the price but if he going to Rahm he will give him a price, I'm sure.
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wbgonne
October 9, 2009 8:52 AM
Time for Rangel to step down. Or get pushed. Either way, he has to go.
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