Rep. Charles Rangel's Ethics Trial Approaches Monday

Nov. 12, 2010 — -- A two-year ethics scandal that saw embattled Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., lose his powerful position among House Democrats but not his bid for reelection will come to a climax when he faces an ethics panel Monday on Capitol Hill.

The ethics trial promises to be a spectacle. Rangel, 80, a former New York City prosecutor, likely will represent himself as he faces the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct. The proceeding is formally called an adjudicatory hearing.

Rangel fired his legal team in late October, drawing into question whether the trial would be delayed. But the flamboyant Rangel is expected on Capitol Hill Monday to seize the opportunity to clear his name.

Rangel stands accused of 13 counts of violating House rules but has emphatically denied any wrongdoing. Rangel allegedly failed to reveal more than half a million dollars in assets on financial disclosure forms, improperly obtained four rent-controlled apartments in New York City and failed to disclose financial arrangements for a villa at the Punta Cana Yacht Club in the Dominican Republic.

Perhaps the most serious charge surrounds Rangel's fundraising activities for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at City College of New York. Rangel allegedly used his status as then-chairman on the House Ways and Means Committee to raise money for the center from corporations and foundations that had business before the House of Representatives and his committee.

Rangel stepped down as chairman of the committee last March. Democrats then lost control of the House in elections earlier this month, so even if his name is cleared, Rangel could not retake his gavel.

The adjudicatory subcommittee is holding the hearing "to determine whether any counts in the Statement of Alleged Violation regarding Representative Rangel have been proven by clear and convincing evidence."

The conclusion of the trial, which is expected to last at least all of next week, will not be the end of the story.

First, the subcommittee must conduct deliberation and vote on each of the 13 counts alleged in the Statement of Alleged Violation. The subcommittee then will send a report of its findings to the full ethics committee.

The full committee then will hold a public sanctions hearing, and if any violation is found, the panel will vote on a sanction recommendation, and write and transmit a report to the full House of Representatives.