Rangel Probed by House Panel

The House Ethics Committee launched an investigation yesterday into possible misconduct by Rep. Charles Rangel in using four rent-stabilized apartments, soliciting donations for an institute on congressional stationery, failing to pay taxes on years of rental income and storing a broken-down car in a Congress garage for years.

Rangel requested the investigation into three of the matters that the panel noted in a memo released yesterday, but the committee’s plans to take up Rangel’s storage of a 1972 Mercedes-Benz in the Capitol complex was a surprise.

The Post broke the story about the car and of House rules baring the storage of a vehicle there for more than 45 days. Lanny Davis, Rangel’s attorney, said Rangel welcomed the investigation.

Read more: (Daphne Retter, “House Panel Probes Rangel,” New York Post, 9/25/08)