Posted by
Roxanna M. on Saturday, August 29, 2009 11:11:04 AM
Columnist Eugene Robinson for saying "Ted Kennedy" and "moral clarity" in the same sentence without "lack of".
That living, breathing, walking, talking one-man crime spree by the name of Charles B. Rangel (D-NY). When last I reported on Good Time Charlie, he was under investigation by the House Ethics Committee for the following:
1. Failing to report more than $75,000 in income over 20 years on beachfront property he owns in the Dominican Republic. His excuses were, chronologically: (1) the people there didn't speak English; (2) it was his wife's fault; and (3) he didn't know he had to report this as income. This from the Chairman of the Ways and Means Committee - the committee that writes tax law.
2. Using a rent-controlled apartment in New York for an office.
3. Using congressional stationary to raise funds to build a monument to himself, for which he subsequently secured a $1.9 million earmark.
4. Owning property in Florida that he never disclosed on his congressional financial disclosure forms.
5. Receiving an interest-free loan that he never disclosed.
6. Leaving his unlicensed, unregistered, uninsured Mercedes in the House underground parking garage for years without paying the $290 per month parking fee.
As a result of the congressional investigation, he has had to amend his financial disclosure forms. For every year between 2002 and 2007, he neglected to mention a few things. To all of the above have been added all of the following:
1. Real property in New Jersey that he never disclosed and has failed to pay property taxes on for 15 years.
2. Investment accounts at JP Morgan, Merrill Lynch, Oppenheimer, and BlackRock that he never disclosed.
3. Stock in Yum Brands, as well as PepsiCo, that he never disclosed.
4. A checking account at the federal credit union with a balance in excess of $250,000 that he never disclosed.
5. Selling a home for $1 million that he never disclosed. Oddly enough, he is still on the title.
According to the New York Post, Charlie-What-Me-Pay Taxes-Rangel failed to disclose, as he was required to do, some $3 million worth of various business transactions. According to The Wall Street Journal, his net worth is not in the piddling $500,000-$1.3 million, but more like the $1 million-$2.5 million range.
According to his office, he did not conceal any of this from the IRS and is paid up on his taxes. If that's the case, then he simply lied on his congressional disclosure forms. What a shock! If that's not the case, then somebody might want to warm up Dan Rostenkowski's old cell.