Charles Rangel

Charlie Rangel Sets Up Legal Fund

Ryan J. Reilly | December 29, 2010, 10:22AM

Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY)

Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) is asking for donations of up to $5,000 to the Charles B. Rangel Legal Expense Trust to cover anticipated further legal costs stemming from allegations of ethics violations against him, Lynn Sweet reported.

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Blake Chisam

Report: House Ethics Committee Director Blake Chisam Leaving

Ryan J. Reilly | December 16, 2010, 8:50AM

WASHINGTON, DC- Nov 18: Chief Counsel Blake Chisam during the House Standards of Official Conduct hearing on what sanctions should be brought against Rep. Charles B. Rangel, D-N.Y. Rangel was found guilty on Tuesday on multiple counts of ethics violations by a House ethics subcommittee. Sanctions that could be imposed are censure, reprimand or expulsion. The full House would then vote on that sanction. (Photo by Scott J. Ferrell/Congressional Quarterly)

Blake Chisam, the staff director and chief counsel of the House ethics committee who was chosen by Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (D-CA), will be departing the key position imminently, The Hill reported. Chisam tendered his resignation before the election, but his departure is fueling speculation that Lofgren wants to leave the committee as well, the newspaper reports.

Chisam oversaw the committee's case against Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) and the delay of the trial of Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA).

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Charles Rangel

Report: FEC Investigating Rangel For Legal Fees

Rachel Slajda | December 6, 2010, 11:42AM

Rep. Charlie Rangel

Trouble isn't over yet for Rep. Charlie Rangel.

The New York Post reports that the Federal Elections Commission is investigating a complaint made against Rangel, alleging that he illegally used PAC funds to pay lawyers defending him in a House ethics investigation.

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Charles Rangel

Charlie Rangel's Final Plea For Reprimand (VIDEO)

Ryan J. Reilly | December 2, 2010, 8:58PM

Ahead of the vote to censure Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) for ethics violations, the long-serving congressman made a final plea on the floor of the House of Representatives for his colleagues to lessen his punishment to a reprimand.

Rangel cited his record of military service as he admitted that he brought his problems upon himself. The New York Democrat was found guilty of 11 ethics violations by the House ethics panel, which then recommended Rangel be censured. The full House voted late Thursday to do so, and Speaker Pelosi (D-CA) read out that censure immediately after the vote.

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