NRSC

Why Is Kendrick Meek Standing By Embattled Charlie Rangel After Ethics Committee Charged Him With 13 Serious Violations?

After the bipartisan House Ethics Committee officially charged U.S. Representative Charlie Rangel (D-NY) with 13 serious ethics violations, his liberal colleague U.S. Representative Kendrick Meek (D-FL) still refuses to return at least $5,500 in donations that he received from Rangel’s campaign committee and leadership PAC.

The Associated Press reported today that, “House investigators on Thursday alleged 13 violations of congressional ethics and federal law by veteran New York Rep. Charles Rangel. The charges include failure to report rental income from vacation property in the Dominican Republic and failing to report more than $600,000 income on his congressional financial disclosure statements.”

Notably, many of Meek’s fellow Democrats have already returned Rangel’s tainted cash.

“Why is Kendrick Meek desperately clinging to Charlie Rangel’s dirty money? Considering Meek’s fellow Democrats have already dumped more than half-a-million dollars of Rangel’s tainted cash, it’s inexplicable that Florida’s liberal Democrat Senate hopeful is still standing by his embattled colleague instead of denouncing his actions and returning his donations,” said National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC) Press Secretary Amber Marchand

Background Information:

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)