Stories of Note: Rangel Paid $26,000 in Mystery Fines to New York City
Rangel Paid $26,000 in Mystery Fines to New York City
“In the latest mess involving Rep. Charlie Rangel’s (D) finances, the former Ways and Means chairman’s campaign committee paid $26,000 in fines to New York City on Jan. 19.
“What could possibly lead to such a massive sum? Rangel’s office isn’t saying.
“‘These payments were made in full compliance with FEC rules,’ said a spokesman for Rangel, who declined to comment further.”
“Rangel’s campaign finance report merely lists the payment as being for ‘fines.’”
(Steven T. Dennis, “Rangel Paid $26,000 in Mystery Fines to New York City,” Roll Call, 4/19/10)
Clip & Save: Open Ethics Investigations Refresher Course
INVESTIGATION STATUS: UNKNOWN
Former Rep. Eric Massa (D-NY): The Ethics Committee announced on March 4 that it was “investigating and gathering additional information concerning matters related to allegations involving Representative Eric Massa.” (Committee on Standards of Official Conduct news release, 3/04/10)
Since that announcement and Massa’s resignation from the House on March 8, the status of the investigation has become unclear:
“The House ethics committee announced its own inquiry into Massa in March, but the panel has not publicly confirmed whether that investigation remains active.
“The committee lost jurisdiction over Massa when he left Congress, although it does retain the power to investigate the actions of his aides, as well as other lawmakers or their staffs who may have been aware of the allegations.
“Republican lawmakers have pushed repeatedly for an investigative subcommittee to focus on what Democratic leaders knew about Massa’s behavior and how they responded.”
(Jennifer Yachnin, “Inquiries Into Massa in No Rush,” Roll Call, 4/20/10)
INVESTIGATION STATUS: OPEN
1. Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY): Rangel is currently under investigation by the Ethics Committee for “[u]sing official resources to transmit letters in 2005, 2006, and 2007 to potential donors to the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at the City College of New York [.]” (Committee on Standards of Official Conduct news release, 9/24/08)
2. Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY): Rangel is currently under investigation by the Ethics Committee for “[a]partment units leased … in the Lenox Terrace apartment complex located in Harlem, New York [.]” (Committee on Standards of Official Conduct news release, 9/24/08)
3. Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY): Rangel is currently under investigation by the Ethics Committee for the “financing of his ownership interests in a guest unit within the Punta Cana Yacht Club located in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic and his compliance with financial disclosure requirements regarding that property [.]” (Committee on Standards of Official Conduct news release, 9/24/08)
4. Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY): Rangel is currently under an investigation by the Ethics Committee with respect to his “compliance with Committee on House Administration Rules regarding storage of a vehicle in a House garage, lot, or designative parking area [.]” (Committee on Standards of Official Conduct news release, 9/24/08)
5. Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY): Rangel is currently under an investigation by the Ethics Committee “with respect to all Financial Disclosure Statements and all amendments filed in calendar year 2009 [.]” (Committee on Standards of Official Conduct news release, 10/08/09)
6. Rep. Laura Richardson (D-CA): Richardson is currently under investigation by the Ethics Committee to determine whether she violated House Rules “by failing to disclose certain real property, income and liabilities on her financial disclosure forms (and amendments thereto) and whether Representative Richardson received an impermissible ‘gift’ or received preferential treatment from her lender relating to the foreclosure, rescission of the foreclosure sale or loan modification agreement for or relating to her property in Sacramento, California.” (Committee on Standards of Official Conduct news release, 10/29/09)
7. Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA): Waters is currently under investigation by the Ethics Committee “with respect to Representative Waters’ alleged communications and activities with, or on behalf of, the National Bankers Association or OneUnited Bank, a bank in which Representative Waters’ husband owned stock and previously served on the board of directors, and the benefit, if any, Representative Waters or her husband received as a result.” (Committee on Standards of Official Conduct news release, 10/29/09)
INVESTIGATION STATUS: DEFERRED TO DOJ
Rep. Jesse Jackson Jr. (D-IL): Jackson was under investigation by the Ethics Committee to determine “whether Representative Jesse Jackson Jr., or an agent of Representative Jackson, may have offered to raise funds for then-Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich in return for the appointment of Representative Jackson to the Illinois Senate seat vacated by President Barack Obama.” However, the U.S. Department of Justice “asked the Committee to defer consideration of this matter and the Committee, following precedent, unanimously voted to defer consideration of this matter …” (Committee on Standards of Official Conduct news release, 9/15/09)