Time Is of the Essence for Rangel

The clock is ticking on Rep. Charlie Rangel’s attempt to end what he describes as a “nightmare” of an ethics case against him before the allegations are unveiled in full on Thursday.

“This has all been a nightmare,” the New York Democrat said Tuesday evening. “I have always wanted this … to be resolved,” he said, adding later that he would like to avoid a public trial before his peers that will take place if no settlement on his punishment occurs before then.

“People are trying to avoid the spectacle of a hearing, and to me that makes sense,” Rangel said.

Rangel spoke as his lawyers and ethics committee staff try to hash out a deal behind the scenes that would avert a full-blown ethics trial in the weeks before the midterm elections.

The House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct announced last week that one of its investigative subcommittees had found substantial reason to believe that Rangel broke House rules. The announcement followed a nearly two-year probe into allegations involving Rangel’s personal finances, fundraising efforts and other issues that has already cost him $2 million in legal fees.

Read more: (Jennifer Yachnin and Steven T. Dennis, “Time Is of the Essence for Rangel,” Roll Call, 07/27/2010)