Althouse: "I object to the proceeding," said Charles Rangel as an 8-member House panel began his trial on corruption charges.

November 15, 2010

"I object to the proceeding," said Charles Rangel as an 8-member House panel began his trial on corruption charges.

"With all due respect, since I don't have counsel to advise me, I'm going to have to excuse myself from these proceedings."

UPDATE: The hearing goes on without Rangel's presence.

41 comments:

Joaquin said...: Rangel = Attention Whore; 11/15/10, 9:29 AM
Known Unknown said...: On one hand, Rangel is a charlatan and a scoundrel. On the other, I love him flaunting such in front of a gallery of hypocrites.; 11/15/10, 9:30 AM
Scott M said...: The latest scuttlebutt, apparently, is that he improperly tapped his PAC funds to pay for a legal defense. Not sure how that jives with him saying he had not yet found anyone to represent him.; 11/15/10, 9:30 AM
Joe said...: (The Crypto Jew)

Doesn't he lack counsel because he fired his last attorneys?

Isn't this like the Menendez brothers asking for sympathy because they're orphans?; 11/15/10, 9:31 AM
Phil 314 said...: This damn swamp will not/can not be drained!!; 11/15/10, 9:33 AM
Tank said...: The real questions:

1. Why hasn't he been indicted for tax evasion?

2. Why hasn't he been indicted for fraud upon the City of NY related to his illegal use of rent-controlled apartments?

Some pigs more equal than others.; 11/15/10, 9:34 AM
madAsHell said...: He has no attorney. He isn't under oath. So, this must be political theater.

Why are there congress members on the congressional ethics committee?? Should it not be like jury duty??; 11/15/10, 9:35 AM
Joe said...: (The Crypto Jew)

So if you can't snark about Sarah Palin on the Palin thread, can you snark abour her here?

Just wonder'n...; 11/15/10, 9:38 AM
AllenS said...: He's got plenty of money. He just isn't going to use it at the moment.; 11/15/10, 9:43 AM
Fen said...: On one hand, Rangel is a charlatan and a scoundrel. On the other, I love him flaunting such in front of a gallery of hypocrites.

Agreed. The fact that someone as corrupt as Rangel has managed to game the system for as long as he has is a testament to the systemic corruption of Congress.

Maybe we should give Al Queda a second shot at the Capitol building.; 11/15/10, 9:45 AM
Leland said...: What? Nobody gave him notice that would be on trial for corruption charges? That's just a miscarraige of justice! I blame the Republicans that now control the House of Representatives! They told me if Republicans took over, they would be running now stop show trials of Democrat corruption. They should be...

What?

Um... my bad.; 11/15/10, 9:48 AM
The Crack Emcee said...: I object to Charles Rangel!; 11/15/10, 9:49 AM
ricpic said...: There needs to be a circus calliope playing in the background when Charlie makes his next protestation of innocence.; 11/15/10, 9:50 AM
traditionalguy said...: Rangel's best defense is that everyone knew he was a fraud, so why pretend to be angry about it now acting like Claude Raines in Casablanca . He will just fade away soon enough.; 11/15/10, 9:58 AM
Ignorance is Bliss said...: Why are there congress members on the congressional ethics committee?? Should it not be like jury duty??

They don't consider us common folk to be their peers.; 11/15/10, 10:00 AM
Joe said...: (The Crypto Jew)

Why are there congress members on the congressional ethics committee?? Should it not be like jury duty??

It’s “non-judicial” ergo no it’s not like jury duty…further a jury of his peers WOULD be Congress persons….I’m like Ash, in Aliens I respect Rangel, like Ash respected the Alien…I admire his chutzpah and I loved his ostensible philosophy of “I haven’t had a bad day since”. Sure he’s a crook, and I hope he gets some punishment, in a truly just world NYC would act on his multiple illegal rent-controlled apartments, and the IRS would come after him for Tax Evasion. This may be the best we can hope for.; 11/15/10, 10:06 AM
Anonymous said...: NYC has a long history of electing overtly and proudly corrupt black congressmen, particularly those from Harlem.

I have the feeling that Rangel's constituents would re-elect him, if they could, even if he were indicted and convicted of serious crimes.; 11/15/10, 10:07 AM
jungatheart said...: He's a classy Traficant. Can't help but like the old scoundrel. Also, he's always reminded me of Jackie Gleason.; 11/15/10, 10:10 AM
The Crack Emcee said...: deborah,

Can't help but like the old scoundrel. Also, he's always reminded me of Jackie Gleason.

LOL. Yea, I gotta admit I like ol' Charlie, too. (I still want him busted, but not too hard.)

And sorry, because it's OT, but I'm making everybody watch this.; 11/15/10, 10:15 AM
Lem Vibe Bandit said...: He said he cannot afford a lawyer at present because his campaign account has been depleted.

Despite the charges of corruption Rangel was re-elected with 80% of the vote... Those Saddam Husein numbers create an aura of invulnerability ripe for all kinds of "malfeasance".

Thats the word Marge used to describe to Jerry Lundegaard what she was doing all the way from "up Brainerd" out of her jurisdiction.

She was investigating some "malfeasance".; 11/15/10, 10:24 AM
jungatheart said...: @ Crack: oh, god. lol; 11/15/10, 10:32 AM
Fen said...: Can't help but like the old scoundrel. Also, he's always reminded me of Jackie Gleason.

True. He's quite a character. I would love to sit down with him for drinks one day.

But don't let that blind you. He is a Weasel of the First Order.; 11/15/10, 10:33 AM
John said...: Charlie was a Korean war hero. There was a time when he actually tried to do some good. He is a living example of how politics and power destroy your soul. In the mean time, he is an embarrassment to the Dems. So, I say, Go Charlie Go!!; 11/15/10, 10:34 AM
former law student said...: Rangel's corruption is only a 2 on the open-ended Randy Cunningham scale.; 11/15/10, 10:47 AM
Joe said...: (The Crypto Jew)

Rangel's corruption is only a 2 on the open-ended Randy Cunningham scale.

Oh Puh-leese…Rangel has spent MILLIONS, by his own claims, where did THAT money come from? He’s DIRTIER than Cunningham, if only because he’s been there longer. And get back to me on the Income Tax Evasion and the Rent-Controlled Apartments, and the Cunningham equivalent. This needn’t be “Republicans did it too and WORSE.” Now if you REALLY want to go there we can, but it doesn’t need to be…; 11/15/10, 10:51 AM
The Crack Emcee said...: deborah,

@ Crack: oh, god. lol

Is that sheer fucking *brilliance* or what?; 11/15/10, 10:54 AM
Humperdink said...: "Rangel's corruption is only a 2 on the open-ended Randy Cunningham scale. "

Duke Cunningham is resting in the slammer...what do you think ol' Charlie's gonna get?

My bet? Slap on the wrist and a mild one at that.; 11/15/10, 10:55 AM
Phil 314 said...: Rangel's corruption is only a 2 on the open-ended Randy Cunningham scale.

Racist. That's a white politician scale.

I want to know where he is on the William Jefferson scale?; 11/15/10, 10:58 AM
Scott M said...: I want to know where he is on the William Jefferson scale?

I'd say it's tough to have frozen money when you're sleeping on a sunny beach.; 11/15/10, 11:03 AM
vet66 said...: I thought he raided his PAC fund and not the principal fund for around $400K. I wonder if that money ended up at his local bank in Puerto Rico or the Virgin Islands?

Maybe better check the glove box in the Mercedes he is storing in congressional parking lot.; 11/15/10, 11:12 AM
MadisonMan said...: And sorry, because it's OT, but I'm making everybody watch this.

That was spellbinding.; 11/15/10, 11:21 AM
Crimso said...: "Rangel's corruption is only a 2 on the open-ended Randy Cunningham scale."

To be fair, his war heroism is also only a 2 (well, maybe a 5) on the Cunningham scale.; 11/15/10, 11:26 AM
William said...: There have been bigger crooks than Charlie Rangel in Congress, and there are certainly many politicians who are less likeable. Nonetheless, he has been caught, and the offense is brazen. If he gets away with this or, worse, is considered by his constituents as a martyr if he doesn't, it will only increase the level of distrust and cynicism that the public holds toward Congress. I don't want to see him in jail, but he should go with as much dignity as he can muster. Cunningham, who was also a war hero and a likeable man, was apologetic about his offenses. Rangel's refusal to acknowledge any guilt in all of this is itself a kind of crime.; 11/15/10, 11:40 AM
Roger J. said...: Ole Charlie is a piece of work--(and like others hereon, while I do think he over the top he's somewhat sympathetic as far as congresscritters go). That said I do hope he ends up with a tattooed white supremacist named spike as his cell mate.

Ms Pelosi, it appears, has failed miserably to drain the swamp--but of course she has lied about ev erything else as well. The "trial is a combination kabuki dance and noh theater. The dems want to get it over before the Rs take power in January. Nothing will happen to ole Charley and his constituents will return him to congress albeit as a ranking member. And justice, congress style, will be done.; 11/15/10, 11:47 AM
Chef Mojo said...: Filipino demon drag queens are teh roxor! Thanks for that, Crack. Made my whole week.

wv: sonshew - Heya, da wa sonshew dere wi da baybees...; 11/15/10, 11:49 AM
Trooper York said...: Charlie Rangel is typical of a congressman of both parties.

He is a flat out thief. But he will skate. Watch and see.

And he will call everyone racists.

That's the way it goes.; 11/15/10, 11:49 AM
Alex said...: What does this say about Harlem voters? They are the most corrupt by voting in this criminal for 30+ years.; 11/15/10, 12:02 PM
Hoosier Daddy said...: I’m like Ash, in Aliens I respect Rangel, like Ash respected the Alien

Ash: You still don't understand what you're dealing with, do you? Perfect organism. Its structural perfection is matched only by its hostility.
Lambert: You admire it.
Ash: I admire its purity. A survivor... unclouded by conscience, remorse, or delusions of morality.
Parker: Look, I am... I've heard enough of this, and I'm asking you to pull the plug.
Ash: Last word.
Ripley: What?
Ash: I can't lie to you about your chances, but... you have my sympathies.

Alien, 1979
Yeah that sums it up rather nicely.; 11/15/10, 12:03 PM
Trooper York said...: I guess you are too young to have heard of Adam Clayton Powell?; 11/15/10, 12:04 PM
Trooper York said...: Or Vito Marcantonio for that matter when the Italians controlled Harlem.

The congressman from Harlem has been a disgrace for about a hundred years.

Race has nothing to do with it.; 11/15/10, 12:06 PM
paul a'barge said...: Rangel himself fired his lawyers. Now you can guess why: he wanted and excuse to stop the investigation.; 11/15/10, 2:21 PM