Markey Coughs Up Rangel Cash

Most of Colorado’s congressional Democrats are cutting financial ties to U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., the embattled former chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee who was formally charged Thursday with 13 violations of congressional ethics standards.

The allegations against the 80-year-old Rangel include failure to report rental income from vacation property in the Dominican Republic and more than $600,000 in other income on his congressional financial disclosure statements.

Several Democratic lawmakers in Congress, meanwhile, have come under fire from Republicans and watchdog groups for not returning campaign contributions from committees tied to Rangel. Lawmakers considered vulnerable this election cycle — including Colorado Reps. Betsy Markey, John Salazar and Ed Perlmutter — have been targeted for the scrutiny.

The National Republican Congressional Committee says about $588,000 in contributions to Democrats from Rangel’s committees have been either returned or donated to charity.

Markey will donate $7,000 given by Rangel in 2008 to a charity in the 4th Congressional District, said spokesman Ben Marter.

Perlmutter received $9,000 from Rangel, according to the Republican group.

Read more: (Monte Whaley, “Colorado Legislators Poised to Shed Rangel Contributions,” The Denver Post, 07/30/10)