Rangel Ethical Questions Linger

Representative Charles B. Rangel of New York has so far been able to hang onto his powerful committee chairmanship despite damaging disclosures about his financial dealings. But when it comes to the kind of clout that Washington pays close attention to — campaign dollars — his status seems to be slipping.

The pace of financial contributions to Mr. Rangel, a fund-raising powerhouse for the Democratic Party who is chairman of the influential House Ways and Means Committee, has dropped by nearly half this year from the previous election cycle, according to the most recent campaign finance disclosure statements.

From January 2009 to September 2009, he raised a total of about $1.7 million through three committees he controls and uses to dole out money to Democratic candidates and causes. Mr. Rangel brought in more than $3.1 million with only two committees he controlled during the corresponding period in the previous election cycle, the financial disclosure statements show.

Read more: (Raymond Hernandez, “As Ethical Questions Linger, Rangel’s Financial Clout Erodes,” The New York Times, 10/17/09)