As I have said before, I like Charlie Rangel. He served his country in the Korean War and he has represented the people of Harlem ably for three decades. He’s charming. He’s witty. He had a great sense of humor. He’s on the right side of the vast majority of the issues facing this country. I even like his gravelly voice and somewhat gruff demeanor. But, I agree with the New York Times editorial page. Rangel has made too many ethical lapses. They aren’t huge crimes, but they all were decisions that benefited him financially. These lapses go directly to issues of tax compliance and policy, issues that he deals with as chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee.
I understand that there is a process when allegations are made about ethics violations. I’m not for short-cutting the process. But the facts are already sufficiently established enough to justify a suspension of Rangel’s chairmanship of Ways & Means. If the Congressional Black Caucus wants to interpret such a move as somehow unjust, that’s unfortunate. Nancy Pelosi promised to drain the swamp of corruption from Congress, and she has an obligation to consider the negative impact Rangel’s difficulties are having and will have for the Democratic Party.
At the very minimum, she should expedite the process of having the Ethics Committee investigate these matters. The sooner we have a verdict the better. But I earnestly recommend that she go one step further and ask Rangel to step aside as chairman until the investigation is completed. Whatever small chance there is that he will be vindicated, there remains a possibility that he will win the gavel back.
And, whether the Congressional Black Caucus can see it or not, this would be in their own best interest.
