
News Stories
- Rangel Probe Hastens Need to Appoint Ethics Chairman
January 7, 2009 - Rangel Statement at Odds with Record
January 5, 2009 - Rep. Charles Rangel Denies He Made Inappropriate Pitch for Funds
January 5, 2009 - Rangel Pushed for a Donation; Insurer Pushed for a Tax Cut
January 5, 2009 - House Chairman Pays Parking Tickets With Campaign Funds
December 30, 2008 - Rangel’s Friendships Face Big Tests
December 22, 2008 - Democrats Are the New Ethics Story
December 19, 2008 - Seat for Sale Scandal Causes Wider Worries over American Corruption
December 19, 2008 - Rangel Unplugged
December 19, 2008 - Trips to Caribbean Appear to Have Broken House Rules
December 17, 2008 - Madoff Beneficiaries Included Senators and Lobbyists
December 17, 2008 - Opening Delayed for Rangel Center
December 15, 2008 - CCNY Puts Off Opening Fete for Rangel Center
December 15, 2008 - The Ethical Shoe Now on the Other Foot
December 12, 2008 - Bob Benenson’s Jigsaw Politics: Tolerance for Corruption Moves Closer to Zero
December 12, 2008 - Rangel: Ethics Probe Can Meet Deadline
December 12, 2008 - Mr. Rangel’s Problems Roll On
December 11, 2008 - Ethics Committee Expands Rangel Probe
December 10, 2008 - Pelosi Defends Rangel
December 10, 2008 - Ethics Expands Rangel Probe
December 10, 2008 - Rangel: Publication Owes Apology to Son
December 10, 2008 - Charlie Rangel's War
December 9, 2008 - Rangel Says Ethics Panel Should Look at Every Allegation
December 9, 2008 - Rangel Decision Pending Investigation
December 9, 2008 - Rangel's Troubles Create a Problem for the Democrats
December 9, 2008 - Rangel Disputes Ethics Allegations
December 9, 2008 - Rangel Not Stepping Down
December 9, 2008 - Rep. Charles Rangel's Ethics Inquiry May Put Pelosi in a Bind
December 8, 2008 - Rangel Paid Son $57,500 for Web Work
December 8, 2008 - Rangel Aide Disputes NYT on Tax Loophole Benefiting Rangel Center Donor
December 8, 2008 - Rangel's Son Got Campaign Cash
December 5, 2008 - US House Speaker Pelosi Criticized On Rangel Inquiry Handling
December 5, 2008 - Is Anything Charlie Rangel Does With Money These Days NOT Shady?
December 5, 2008 - Rangel's Feud With the Times Intensifies
December 4, 2008 - Why Charlie Rangel Is Still Smiling
December 4, 2008 - It's Time to Resign, Charlie
December 4, 2008 - Government Watchdog Group Wants New Allegations Included In Ethics Probe Of Rep. Charles Rangel
December 4, 2008 - Rangel Fights To Hold Party Support As Ethics Charges Fly
December 3, 2008 - Rangel Confident About His Ethics Investigation
December 3, 2008 - GOP Tax Lobbyist Defends Rep. Rangel, Takes Issue with Accounts of Meetings
December 3, 2008 - Watchdog Group Calls For Expansion Of Rangel Investigation
December 3, 2008 - Ethics Questions Still Hounding Rangel
December 3, 2008 - Congress: Rangel vs. NYT
December 3, 2008 - Rangel Takes on The New York Times
December 2, 2008 - Rangel's Fate Still Unknown
December 2, 2008 - Pelosi: 'I Don't Foresee' Rangel's Removal From Ways & Means
December 1, 2008 - Pelosi: Rangel Ethics Probe Will End by Jan. 3
December 1, 2008 - Rep. Rangel Rebukes 'Inflammatory' Media Report
November 26, 2008 - So Who Picked Up the Tab?
November 26, 2008 - Report Links Rangel School Gift to Tax Loophole
November 26, 2008 - Rangel: Prove I Did Wrong And I'll Quit
November 26, 2008 - Amid Ethics Questions, Rangel Hires Zuckerman Partner
November 26, 2008 - The Congressman, the Donor and the Tax Break
November 25, 2008 - N.Y. Congressman Rangel Incorrectly Got D.C. Tax Break
November 25, 2008 - Report: Rangel Protected Loophole Benefiting School Donor
November 25, 2008 - Investigations Hamper Rangel’s Sway
November 25, 2008 - Report: Rangel efforts benefited donor
November 25, 2008 - Another Tax Issue Surfaces for Rangel
November 24, 2008 - Rangel Under Scrutiny Again For Tax Issues
November 24, 2008 - NY Rep. Rangel Hires Accountant in Ethics Mess
November 14, 2008 - Embattled Rangel Hires Firm to Probe Finances
November 14, 2008 - Rangel Hires Help for Tax Problems
November 14, 2008 - Congress of Angels
November 12, 2008 - Congressmen Under Investigation? 11; Number Victorious Tuesday? 9
November 7, 2008 - Scandal on the Congressional Campaign Trail: Who Survived?
November 6, 2008 - Rangel Stalls on Vow to Hire Tax-Fix Expert
November 3, 2008 - Rangel’s Attorney Says Auditor Yet to Be Hired
October 28, 2008 - Rangel’s Beach Trip Got Ethics Thumbs-Up
October 2, 2008 - Justice Defends Handling of Witness in Stevens Case
October 1, 2008 - Rangel Un-moved
September 30, 2008 - Rangel Insists Ethics Tumult Will Pass
September 29, 2008 - House Ethics Committee Votes to Begin an Inquiry on Rangel
September 25, 2008 - Ethics Panels Sets New Guidelines for Trips
September 25, 2008 - Loebsack Donates Money from Rangel
September 23, 2008 - Congressman Pays Back Tax on Dominican Republic Villa
September 22, 2008 - Rangel Now Faces Losing Low-Rent Apts.
September 22, 2008 - Rep. Rangel Pays $10K In Back Taxes
September 22, 2008 - Hastings Criticizes Delay in Rangel Probe
September 19, 2008 - Official Rangel Probe Appears Likely
September 19, 2008 - GOP Fails to Oust Rep. Charlie Rangel from Ways and Means Committee
September 19, 2008 - Green Asks Panel to Consider Rangel's Request
September 19, 2008 - Look Who Voted to Punish Rep. Charlie Rangel
September 19, 2008 - Given G.O.P. Predicament, Rangel Opts to Ride Out the Storm
September 19, 2008 - Behind the Curtain: Rangel to Meet the Tax Man
September 17, 2008 - Rangel Launches His Defense, Vows to Keep Chairmanship
September 17, 2008 - Rangel Could Face $100K Tab
September 17, 2008 - Ethics Panel Vague About Rangel Probe - Lawyer
September 16, 2008 - Amid Ethics Questions, Ways and Means Democrats Stand Behind Rangel
September 16, 2008 - Rangel Holds onto House Chairmanship amid Inquiry
September 16, 2008 - Freshmen are Keeping Rangel's Money
September 16, 2008 - Pelosi: No Decision Yet on Rangel's Chairmanship
September 16, 2008 - Rep. Charles Rangel's Got More Financial Mistakes
September 14, 2008 - Another Power 'Trip' by Rangel
September 14, 2008 - Rep. Charles Rangel Lobbied IRS for Tax Breaks on Behalf of Yankees
September 14, 2008 - More Errors for Rangel; Hires New Accountant
September 14, 2008 - Rangel, Fossella Make 'Most Corrupt' List
September 10, 2008 - House GOP Wants Embattled Rangel off Tax Panel
September 10, 2008 - Charles Rangel to File Amended Tax Returns
September 10, 2008 - Rangel, Fossella Make 'Most Corrupt' List
September 10, 2008 - Pelosi: Rangel Won't Be Forced Aside
September 10, 2008 - Rangel Says He Will Pay Back Taxes; GOP Wants Him Out of Chairmanship
September 10, 2008 - U.S. Rep. Charlie Rangel had no angle in rent-cash flap - lawyer says
September 8, 2008 - Tax Expert: Rangel Likely Won't Be Prosecuted
September 8, 2008 - Rangel Says He Didn't Know of Loan Terms
September 8, 2008 - Interest Was Waived for Rangel on Loan for Villa
September 8, 2008 - Ethics Group Asks Justice Department and IRS to Investigate Rangel's Unreported and Undisclosed Beach Villa Rental Income
September 8, 2008 - House Chairman Failed to Report $75,000 in Income
September 4, 2008 - Tricky Charlie's Carib 'Hideaway'
September 2, 2008 - 'Sick' It to Charlie
September 1, 2008
The 20 most corrupt members of Congress
- Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL)
- Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA)
- Rep. John T. Doolittle (R-CA)
- Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL)
- Rep. Vito J. Fossella (R-NY)
- Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-LA)
- Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-LA)
- Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA)
- Rep. Daniel Lipinski (D-IL)
- Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
- Rep. Gary G. Miller (R-CA)
- Rep. Alan B. Mollohan (D-WV)
- Rep. Timothy F. Murphy (R-PA)
- Rep. John P. Murtha (D-PA)
- Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM)
- Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY)
- Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ)
- Rep. Harold Rogers (R-KY)
- Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK)
- Rep. Don Young (R-AK)
Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-NY)

Representative Charles Rangel (D-NY) is 15th-term member of the House of Representatives representing New York’s 15th district. Rep. Rangel’s ethics issues stem from leasing rent controlled apartments, improperly using congressional stationary and failing to disclose rental income on his personal financial disclosure forms.
Improper Rental Arrangement
Rep. Rangel rented three apartments at Lenox Terrace, an apartment building in New York City owned by the Olnick Organization, and combined them into one large unit, which he uses as his residence. Rep. Rangel paid a total monthly rent of $3,264 for the three units: $1,329 for a two bedroom unit, $1,329 for a one-bedroom unit, and $606 for a studio. For new tenants, such apartments would rent for approximately $2,600, $1,865, and $1,300, respectively, for a total of $5,765. In addition, Rep. Rangel’s campaign committee and political action committee jointly rented another one-bedroom apartment in the building for office use at a cost of $630 a month.
Under New York state and city rent regulations, tenants can continue renewing stabilized leases in such apartments only as long as the apartments are used as their primary residences. Landlords routinely require tenants who have more than one rent-stabilized apartments to give up additional units. Because Rep. Rangel was able to maintain at least two apartments in addition to his primary residence at rent-stabilized rates, by failing to pay fair-market rent on these apartments, Rep. Rangel may have violated the House gifts rule.
Violation of Campaign Finance Law
Renting a rent-stabilized apartment for use as an office by campaign and political action committees raises federal election law issues because the committees did not pay fair market rent. The difference between the fair market value of the apartment might be considered an in-kind contribution made by the owners of Lenox Terrace, the Olnick Organization, but neither the campaign committee nor the political action committee reported receiving such in-kind contributions. In addition, given that Rep. Rangel’s campaign and political action committees rented the apartment at below market rates for many years, they likely received excessive in-kind contributions. Finally, if the Olnick Organization is a corporation, the campaign and political action committees may have received illegal corporation contributions.
Improper Use of Congressional Stationary
Beginning in 2005, Rep. Rangel solicited funds for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at the City College of New York using his official congressional letterhead. Rep. Rangel confirmed that he sent at least 150 letters on the stationary to individuals and foundations asking for support for the center. Officials at the City College acknowledge that Rep. Rangel has assisted them in rasing funds for the center.
House rules prohibits the use of congressional letterhead for any mailing paid for with non-appropriated funds. As a result, by sending out letters on his official letterhead on behalf of City College of New York, Rep. Rangel likely has violated House rules.
Dominican Republic Villa
Rep. Rangel owns a beachfront villa on a Dominican Republic resort that rents for between $500 and $1,100 a night. Although Rep. Rangel’s villa is generally booked solid in the high season of December 15 through April 15, Rep. Rangel did not declare any rental income on his personal financial disclosure forms for the years from 1996-2000 and in 2006 and 2007, though he did declare income in other years. In total, Rep. Rangel failed to disclose $75,000 in rental income since 1988.
When Rep. Rangel purchased the villa in 1988, the company developing the resort gave him the mortgage, to be paid back over seven years at a rate of 10.5%. In 1990, the interest was waived for seven early investors including Rep. Rangel because the resort was generating less income than projected. Rep. Rangel has claimed he was unaware that he was not paying interest on the mortgage.
By failing to include the rental income on his personal financial disclosure forms, Rep. Rangel may have violated the Ethics in Government Act and House rules. In addition, if when the interest was waived on his loan for the property, Rep. Rangel received better terms than others similarly situated, the loan may have violated the House gifts rule.
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