Representative Charlie Rangel (D-NY) had a high profile ethics investigation over the last few weeks. His wrong doings earned him a Congressional reprimand. Maxine Waters, a Democratic Representative from California has also been hit with ethics charges for alleged conflicts of interest. She is pursuing a speedy hearing to clear her name.
Conflicts of interest alleged against Waters
Maxine Waters, a 10-term representative from California, was charged with ethics violations by the House of Representatives today. The charges were announced the previous week. It is alleged that she arranged for special treatment for OneUnited Financial institution, an online bank that her husband holds stock in, according to USA Today. The financial institution received $ 12 million in bailout funding. Allegedly, she arranged for the bank’s representatives to be in a meeting with officials from the Treasury, to get a crack at bailout money. Allegedly, she never informed her chief of staff to keep from potential conflicts of interest. Moore, coincidentally, is her grandson.
Little proof of innocence for Rangel
Representative Charlie Rangel (D-NY) received a reprimand for 13 counts of ethics violations. The New York Times reports that the charges included improper soliciting for donations, and falsifying income tax returns by not reporting large portions of income and assets. Two years are spent on this investigation. The House of Representatives and the Senate have protocols for expulsion or censure of members, but are rarely used. The last censure within the House was in 1983, and James Trafficant had the dubious honor of being the last expelled member of the House in 2002. The Senate rarely uses its powers of Censure as only 4 Senators are censured within the last 60 years; one of those unlucky few was Thomas Dodd, whose son is Senator Chris Dodd.
Becoming unacceptable
If Rangel is found guilty he should give his resignation, according to Representative Ann Kirkpatrick (A-AZ). She also says that the laws that are in place are not just for citizens to follow but everyone, and that contains the members of Congress.
Additional reading
nytimes.com/2010/07/31/nyregion/31rangel.html?_r=1 and scp=8 and sq= and st=nyt
content.usatoday.com/communities/onpolitics/post/2010/08/maxine-water-ethics-charge/1
