Rangel to Stay On as Ways and Means Chairman

Representative Charles B. Rangel will not step down from the chairmanship of the House Ways and Means Committee, despite pressure from Republicans and others who say his leadership is being undermined by his swirling ethical problems.

Mr. Rangel’s lawyer, Lanny Davis, told reporters during a conference call on Tuesday that the House speaker, Nancy Pelosi, supported his decision to remain in the chairmanship. The announcement came after Mr. Rangel, the 78-year-old Harlem Democrat, met behind closed doors on Monday with the speaker and other party leaders.

Read more: (David Kocieniewski and Raymond Hernandez, “Rangel to Stay on as Chief of a Key House Committee,” The New York Times, 9/17/08)