In the wake of an announcement from the bipartisan House Ethics Committee yesterday that they had “substantial reason to believe” that U.S. Representative Charlie Rangel (D-NY) violated a range of ethics rules and potentially broke the law, the embattled Democrat held a press conference today and bullishly refused to step down from Congress or end his bid for reelection this November.
Roll Call noted, “The House ethics committee announced Thursday that an investigative subcommittee found substantial reason to believe that Rangel broke House rules and possibly ran afoul of the law. The panel has been investigating questions involving Rangel’s personal finances, fundraising efforts and other issues for nearly two years.”
Despite these very serious allegations, liberal trial lawyer and Democrat Senate hopeful Jack Conway (D-KY) continues to loyally remain silent about his friend’s alleged transgressions, refusing to call for his resignation or return at least $13,000 in donations that he received from Rangel’s campaign committee and leadership PAC.
The Washington Post’s Chris Cillizza reported today:
The news that New York Democratic Rep. Charlie Rangel violated House ethics rules and could be subject to a Congressional trial – likely in September – has party strategists panicked at what such a spectacle might do to an already difficult election climate for their side…
Republicans are likely to repeat a strategy they employed when Rangel was forced to step down as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee in March – calling for the return of campaign contributions from the New York Democrat and seeking to get his colleagues on the record about whether or not he should resign.
For a party trying to desperately to turn the election into a choice between the two parties rather than a referendum on President Barack Obama and Democratic majorities in Congress, the Rangel allegations — and his combative approach to fighting them — is an unwelcome headache that could further complicate their efforts to keep the majority on Nov. 2.
The National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) continues to call on Conway to return Rangel’s tainted campaign cash, especially in light of the fact that many Democrats in Congress returned the money earlier this year.
“Jack Conway is vying for a promotion to the U.S. Senate, yet he refuses to step forward to call for Congressman Rangel’s resignation or return his tainted campaign contributions,” said NRSC Press Secretary Amber Marchand. “Conway has promised to rubberstamp President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and Harry Reid’s out-of-control spending agenda in Washington, and now he is standing by the unethical behavior of one of their top lieutenants. There’s no doubt that voters will hold Conway accountable for his grossly misplaced priorities and liberal agenda when they elect Rand Paul this November.”
Background Information:
Jack Conway Has Accepted At Least $13,000 From Rangel’s Campaign Committee And Leadership PAC:
- Conway Accepted $1,000 In March 2002, And Two $1,000 Contributions In August Of 2002 From Rangel For Congress. (Federal Election Commission Website, www.fec.gov, Accessed 2/25/10)
- In The 2002 Cycle, Conway Accepted $10,000 From Rangel’s Leadership PAC. (Center For Responsive Politics Website, http://www.opensecrets.org/pacs/pacgot.php?cmte=C00302588&cycle=2002, Accessed 2/25/10)
