Rep. Lance: Rangel Should Consider Resignation

U.S. Rep. Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon County) believes U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel (D-New York) should consider resignation.

In an interview with Patch during a public appearance in Westfield Tuesday night, Lance said the ethics charges against Rangel warrant the powerful Harlem Democrat to consider stepping down from Congress. 

Rangel has been charged with a series of ethics violations, including using his official position to raise funds from businesses pending before his committee for a CUNY center named after him, failed to pay income taxes on income from a vacation property, violating New York City rent control laws and not disclosing income on his congressional financial disclosure forms.

"The charges are extremely serious and he does have a legal right to go to a trial," Lance said. "Based on what I have seen I think he should consider resigning."

Rangel has resisted calls to resign or drop his bid for an 11th term from Republican and Democratic colleagues and said he intends to fight the complaint. The House ethics committee started a preliminary trial on the case last week. 

In 2008, Lance questioned why his then Democratic opponent, Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Fanwood) kept donations from Rangel, then under investigation by the ethics committee, while she returned donations from former Assemblyman Neil Cohen (D-Roselle), who had been indicted on child pornography charges.

Lance said Rangel's charges involving tax laws particularly trouble him given Rangel's status as the former chairman of the tax writing Ways and Means Committee.

"Given that fact he should consider resigning since he was chairman of the tax writing committee," Lance said.

Lance said he is undecided on which punishment he would vote for should the case reach the full House for a vote. The ethics committee has the option of recommending a reprimand, censure or expulsion for Rangel. Lance said he intends to follow the ethics committee trial in September and listen to Rangel's rebuttal before he makes a final decision.

Lance did state that while he and his fellow Republicans have been calling for Rangel's resignation, the calls have become bipartisan.

"There are now Democrats who have called for his resignation," he said.
"The charges are extremely serious and he does have a legal right to go to a trial," Lance said. "Based on what I have seen I think he should consider resigning."

Rangel has resisted calls to resign or drop his bid for an 11th term from Republican and Democratic colleagues and said he intends to fight the complaint. The House ethics committee started a preliminary trial on the case last week. 

In 2008, Lance questioned why his then Democratic opponent, Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Fanwood) kept donations from Rangel, then under investigation by the ethics committee, while she returned donations from former Assemblyman Neil Cohen (D-Roselle), who had been indicted on child pornography charges.

Lance said Rangel's charges involving tax laws particularly trouble him given Rangel's status as the former chairman of the tax writing Ways and Means Committee.

"Given that fact he should consider resigning since he was chairman of the tax writing committee," Lance said.

Lance said he is undecided on which punishment he would vote for should the case reach the full House for a vote. The ethics committee has the option of recommending a reprimand, censure or expulsion for Rangel. Lance said he intends to follow the ethics committee trial in September and listen to Rangel's rebuttal before he makes a final decision.

Lance did state that while he and his fellow Republicans have been calling for Rangel's resignation, the calls have become bipartisan.

"There are now Democrats who have called for his resignation," he said.