Rep. Charles Rangel Charged with Ethics Violations

July 22, 2010 -- A House subcommittee investigating Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) has charged him with violating House Rules, setting the stage for a trial to be conducted by the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.

Rangel, who has been under investigation for two years for multiple alleged violations, said he is unfazed by the subcommittee's action.

"Now the facts are going to get out and I think that's good," Rangel told reporters. "I don't have any fear at all politically or personally what they come up with. So I don't feel badly? Why would I feel bad when I've asked them for two years? So this is it, it's what I've been waiting for, and we'll see what happens."

Asked if he'd testify on his own behalf, Rangel said, "You bet your sweet –. If I can testify, I will."

Rangel, who resigned as chairman of the Ways & Means Committee in March, has been under investigation for multiple alleged violations including:

- Improper fundraising for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at the City College of New York.

- Improperly obtaining four rent-controlled apartments in New York City.

- Failure to disclose financial arrangements for a villa at the Punta Cana Yacht Club in the Dominican Republic.

- Improper storage of a vehicle in the House parking lot.

- Failure to reveal more than $500,000 in assets in his financial disclosure forms.

The Committee did not specify which of these allegations would result in formal charges. The first public hearing in the case against Rangel is scheduled for next Thursday.

Republicans immediately responded by placing blame on Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi.