As Rangel Steps Down, Will Meek Finally Return Tainted Campaign Cash?

After being publicly admonished last week by a committee of his congressional peers for breaking key ethics rules, embattled U.S. Representative Charlie Rangel (D-NY) announced today that he will step down as Chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee as he continues to face a wide-ranging investigation of additional corruption charges.

Even before this morning’s announcement, a number of Rangel’s fellow Democrats stepped forward in recent days and announced that they would return his campaign donations, including U.S. Representative Artur Davis (D-AL), who told The Hill: “Representative Rangel has had a long and distinguished career and I respect his leadership, but I believe Congress needs to do more to restore the public trust.”

Unfortunately, not all Democrats agree that Congress needs “to do more to restore the public trust,” including Democrat Senate hopeful U.S. Representative Kendrick Meek (D-FL), who has failed to denounce Rangel’s actions and is still holding tight to at least $5,500 in donations from his campaign committee and leadership PAC.

“Considering the House Ethics Committee has publicly chastised Charlie Rangel for violating key ethics rules and Rangel himself has personally acknowledged that his actions render him incapable of chairing one of the most powerful committees in Congress, will Kendrick Meek follow the lead of his fellow Democrats and finally return Rangel’s campaign contributions?” asked National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Press Secretary Amber Marchand.

“Actions speak louder than words, and this is a key moment in Meek’s campaign for the U.S. Senate – will he finally return these tainted campaign contributions, or will he continue to turn a blind eye to his colleagues’ corrupt behavior? If Meek continues to hold tight to Rangel’s cash, Floridians will know that his political patrons – no matter how unethical – will always come before the constituents who he swore to faithfully and honestly represent,” Marchand concluded.

Background Information:

House Democrats Who Have Returned Rangel’s Tainted Campaign Cash:

U.S. Representative Michael Arcuri (D-NY) (Bryon Ackerman, “Arcuri Distances Himself from Rangel Mess,” The Observer-Dispatch, 3/02/10)

U.S. Representative Bill Foster (D-IL) (Mark Hemingway, “Representatives Ditching Rangel’s Hot Dirty Money,” The Washington Examiner, 3/02/10)

U.S. Representative Artur Davis (D-AL) (Susan Crabtree, “Davis Calls on Rangel to Give up Tax Chairmanship After Ethics Finding,” The Hill, 3/02/10)

U.S. Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D-AZ) (Jonathan Allen, “Another Dem Ditches Rangel,” Politico, 3/02/10)

U.S. Representative Jim Himes (D-CT) (Susan Crabtree, “Pelosi’s ‘Campaign Mode’ Pledge Could Play Major Role in Rep. Rangel’s Future,” The Hill, 2/28/10)

U.S. Representative Ann Kirkpatrick (D-AZ) (Tory Newmyer and Jackie Kucinich, “Battle Grows Over Rangel’s Future,” Roll Call, 3/02/10)

U.S. Representative Larry Kissell (D-NC) (Jim Morrill, “Wrangling Over Rangel’s Money,” The Charlotte Observer’s “Campaign Tracker” Blog, 3/02/10)

U.S. Representative Jerry McNerney (D-CA) (Mark Hemingway, “Representatives Ditching Rangel’s Hot Dirty Money,” The Washington Examiner, 3/02/10)

U.S. Representative Walt Minnick (D-ID) (Dan Popkey, “Minnick to Donate to Charity $10,000 he Received from Embattled Rep. Rangel,” Idaho Statesman, 3/02/10)

U.S. Representative Harry Mitchell (D-AZ) (Susan Crabtree, “Davis Calls on Rangel to Give up Tax Chairmanship After Ethics Finding,” The Hill, 3/02/10)

U.S. Representative Mark Schauer (D-MI) (Ed Brayton, “Schauer: Rangel Should Resign,” Michigan Messenger, 3/03/10)

U.S. Representative Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH) (James Pindell, “Shea-Porter Returns Rangel Money,” NHPoliticalReport.com, 3/02/10)

U.S. Representative Dina Titus (D-NV) (Susan Crabtree, “Davis Calls on Rangel to Give up Tax Chairmanship After Ethics Finding,” The Hill, 3/02/10)

U.S. Representative Niki Tsongas (D-MA) (Dave Wedge, “GOP Zings Niki Tsongas,” Boston Herald, 2/28/10)

On February 10, 2009 And October 7, 2009, Meek Voted Against Republican Resolutions Aimed At Stripping Rangel Of His Powerful Ways & Means Committee Chairmanship.

Kendrick Meek Has Accepted At Least $5,500 From Rangel’s Campaign Committee And Leadership PAC:

Kendrick Meek Accepted $500 From Rangel For Congress In July 2002. (Federal Election Commission Website, www.fec.gov, Accessed 2/25/10)

In The 2008 Cycle, Kendrick Meek Accepted $5,000 From Rangel’s Leadership PAC. (Center For Responsive Politics Website, http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00302588&cycle=2008, Accessed 2/25/10)