The truly sad part is that the House might go along with this nonsense and give Rep. Charles Rangel, the disgraced Harlem Democrat who was found guilty on 12 of 13 ethics charges, an even lighter slap on the wrist than the Ethics Panel had suggested as punishment. Rangel wants the opportunity to lobby the rest of the House to plead his case for a reprimand, rather than censure.
Neither means a bit of difference to Rangel or his constituents who reelected him to yet another term in office despite being a tax cheat and scoundrel.
Rangel and his staffers are busy putting together colorful charts highlighting reasons not to give Rangel anything more than a censure.
Yet, I think that there's more than sufficient reasons and justifications to expel Rangel from the House - the fact that he repeatedly lied about his taxes and real estate holdings. He avoided reporting and paying the proper income tax and improperly utilized a rent stabilized apartment as a campaign office.
That's grounds for expulsion - not a censure or reprimand.
Yet, I expect nothing more than a slap on the wrist because that's what Congress generally does.
No comments:
Post a Comment