Rangel Finally Pays for Carib News Trips – From His Campaign Coffers

Rep. Charles Rangel, admonished by the House Ethics Committee for wrongly taking corporate-sponsored Caribbean junkets, has finally paid for the travel and lodging — but not out of his own pockets.

Rangel tapped his campaign coffers to repay the travel costs, totaling $3,478.

Ethics watchdogs say the Harlem Democrat’s move reveals how powerful Capitol Hill players avoid taking personal responsibility.

“It is very convenient for him because it allows other people to pay for his mistakes,” said Meredith McGehee, policy director for the nonpartisan Campaign Legal Center.

“These payments were made in full compliance with FEC [Federal Election Commission] rules,” a Rangel spokesman said.

Read more: (S.A. Miller, “Rangel’s $lippery Penance,” New York Post, 4/26/10)