Tax Cheat Charles Rangel Charged with Ethics Violations

Justice may actually come to one of the most corrupt members of Congress. Charles Rangel (D - NY), former chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee, was charged by a House investigative committee today with multiple ethics violations, which weren't disclosed, but investigations have focused on tax evasion, use of official stationary to raise money, and providing a tax shelter for an oil drilling company, among many others. Rangel's problems date back to his nearly 40 years in Congress, but are counter to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's now infamous quote that she would "drain the swamp" of corruption in Congress. Little did she know how corrupt the Democratic party is.

This is not going to help the Democrat-controlled Congress in this fall's midterm elections. Beyond their approval rating of 11%, the American people are learning about all of the backdoor deals that Democrats have made, especially while blaming Republicans for everything that's wrong with the country.

Charles Rangel stepped down from his chairmanship this past March after the ethics investigation began. The man is slightly delusional and doesn't have a firm grasp of reality - it's like he's from another planet, in all seriousness. Here are some of the investigations against Rangel:

- Use of official stationary to raise money for the Charles B. Rangel for Public Service at the City College of New York.
- Whether he had the Ways and Means Committee consider legislation that would benefit donors to the Rangel Center at the same time the congressman solicited donations or pledges.
- Preserved a tax shelter for an oil drilling company, Nabors Industries, which has a chief executive who donated money to the center while Rangel's committee considered the loophole legislation.
- Use of four rent-controlled apartment units in New York City, when the city's rent stabilization program is supposed to apply to one's primary residence. This raises the question of how all the units could be primary residences. One was a campaign office, raising the separate question of whether the rent break was an improper gift.
- Whether Rangel, as required, publicly reported information on the financing and rental of his ownership interest in a unit within the Punta Cana Yacht Club in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic. Rangel also had to pay back taxes on the rental income.
- Intentionally failed to report - when required - hundreds of thousands of dollars or more in assets. The amended disclosure reports added a credit union IRA, mutual fund accounts and stock.

As we've seen with Treasury Secretary and tax cheat Tim Geithner, Turbo Tax can be a real bitch.

The charges send the case to a House trial and the timing of this couldn't be more perfect for America to see the true corruption in Congress, but more importantly, realize that career politicians need to go. What's troubling is a man that's a tax cheat was the chairman of the tax writing committee. Officials also reported that Rangel's attorney tried unsuccessfully to negotiate a settlement, which only proves what a crook this odd-looking man truly is.

Charles Rangel is so corrupt it's not even funny. Honestly, who forgets to report $1.3 million of income in four years? A crook, that's who. Rangel uses his position and the public trough to get what he wants. As in Speaker Pelosi's comment of "draining the swamp," start from the top down, honey, and you'll finally be able to eat your own words.

Let's just wait and see how long this fraud takes before he pulls out the race card.