Pelosi Claims She Doesn’t Know of Rangel Should’ve Known

Yesterday on ABC’s “This Week,” Speaker Nancy Pelosi said that she didn’t know if Rangel should have known that he was violating House rules by accepting corporate-funded Caribbean trips:

“[Host Elizabeth] VARGAS: The Ethics Committee on Charles Rangel said that he has violated the House gift rule.

“PELOSI: Uh-huh. “VARGAS: How can he remain in such a powerful position as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee?

“PELOSI: Well, I think —

“VARGAS: Given the fact that there are further pending ethics investigations and this public admonishment has taken place.

“PELOSI: Well, it is a public admonishment. It said he did not knowingly violate House rules. So that gives him some comfort. But the fact is that we have a —

“VARGAS: He should have known though, don’t you think?

“PELOSI: Well, I don’t know.”

Read more: (Elizabeth Vargas, ABC’s “This Week,” 2/28/10)