[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 156 (2010), Part 11]
[House]
[Pages 15440-15443]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                     QUESTION OF PERSONAL PRIVILEGE

  Mr. RANGEL. Madam Speaker, I rise to a point of personal privilege.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The Chair is aware of valid bases for the 
gentleman's point of personal privilege.
  The gentleman from New York is recognized for 1 hour.
  Mr. RANGEL. My dear friends and colleagues, I rise to the floor 
because the newspapers and the media have indicated that there is a 
concern about some of the Members in this House that I retire or remove 
myself from this body. And I have always tried to play by the rules. 
And I cannot think of anybody that has encouraged me to speak here.
  I want to thank all of you who are concerned about me for saying 
that, you know, a guy's a fool to represent himself, as some of the 
people have said. But I have been losing a lot of sleep over these 
allegations, and my family and community. And some of these rules that 
they have is that I am restricted by confidentiality. But for years I 
have been saying, No comment, no comment, no comment to a lot of 
serious allegations because I could not comment, and I would refer them 
to the Ethics Committee.

[[Page 15441]]

  When the Ethics Committee finally brought out their statement of 
alleged violations, it was a long list of things, and somehow the 
chairman of the subcommittee of investigation indicated that I had 
received a lot of offers to settle this thing so that it would not 
cause embarrassment to my Democratic friends, and that I had been 
offered a reprimand. And a lot of people kind of felt that that sounded 
like a wonderful opportunity to remove this so that I could leave the 
Congress with some degree of dignity.
  Why, even some people said that the President had suggested that his 
life might be made easier if there was no Charlie Rangel so-called 
scandal. But I interpret it another way. I think when the President 
said that he wanted me to end my career in dignity, he didn't put a 
time limit on it. And I would think that his concern would be that if 
any Member of the House of Representatives has been accused of serious 
crimes or allegations, that somehow within the process, even though we 
are not entitled to a court process, there has to be some process in 
which the Member has an opportunity to tell his constituents, his 
family, and his friends what he didn't believe.
  So when the chairman of the investigative committee said I had been 
offered a settlement, it reminded me of something that I will devote my 
retiring years to besides education, which is the major thrust of my 
attempt here, is that those of you that come anywhere near criminal 
courts, we have a terrible thing that happens throughout these United 
States. And that is that someone gets arrested for a very serious 
crime, and they get their lawyer, and the lawyer explains that, I think 
it's better that you plead guilty to a lesser crime. And he says, Well, 
I am not only not guilty, but I don't even know what's involved here. 
They said, Well, listen, we are not suggesting that you plead guilty if 
you are innocent, but we think you ought to know that this judge, if 
you are found guilty, is going to send you away for 20 years. On the 
other hand, you have no offenses, you are a first offender, and if you 
could just forget about this thing and explain later what happened.

                              {time}  1250

  So he continues to tell his lawyer that, hey, I am willing to admit 
what I have done wrong, and I have done some things wrong, but I 
shouldn't have to anyway. He says, listen, we would never tell you to 
quit or resign. We are just telling you that it would be easier for us 
if this were not an issue. But knowing the President as I do, I think 
he believes that dignity means that everybody is entitled to be judged 
for allegations against them.
  Now, what is working against me? We come back to this House because 
the Speaker has called us here in order to make certain that we provide 
resources for governors and mayors to maintain our teachers and our 
firefighters, and Rangel is not on the schedule for anything. Which is 
okay, because I know that the members of the committee, they work hard, 
it is a selfless job. God knows I wouldn't take it. I respect the time 
that they have placed on this. And it has been almost 2 years.
  But I have a primary that takes place a couple of days before they 
even thought about meeting. And then I found out from my lawyer that 
even when they meet on the 13th of September, there is no trial date 
for then.
  So I don't want to be awkward and embarrass anybody. As a matter of 
fact, those people that believe that their election is going to be 
dependent on me resigning, I would like to encourage Democrats to 
believe, I think Republicans have given you enough reason to get 
reelected, and they continue to do something.
  But quite frankly, I think I have given. I mean, a lot of people 
don't know, but when the--well, I don't want to be critical of the 
Ethics Committee because my lawyer said you can't get annoyed with them 
because there still may be room for settlement. And I thought about it.
  Well, when I found out that one of the Republicans that will be 
sitting on what they call the adjudication committee had made remarks 
condemning me for my contribution to City College, that it was a Rangel 
thing, an ego thing and a corrupt thing, and he was going to judge me, 
I asked my lawyer, I said, well, how can they do that? They said well, 
the Ethics Committee can do what they want.
  I said, well, do me a favor. I have paid close to $2 million. I 
continue to owe you money. And you are telling me that you have no idea 
when there is going to be a hearing, and every time I talk with you 
there are six or seven lawyers. I said, do me a favor. I said Friday, 
let's see what happens today in terms of reaching out to settle this 
thing, because I can't afford to be represented by counsel.
  Each and every day the expenses build up, and I think that I have an 
obligation to younger Members of Congress to be able to tell them if 
you couldn't raise the $2 million, you are out of business, no matter 
what the allegations are, because no one is going to read the defense. 
And, of course, just the allegations by themselves with Members who 
have close districts, Republicans and Democrats, they would be out of 
business. So I am here because I could afford lawyers for close to 2 
years, but everyone would know that there comes a limit.
  So I told them, just put everything on hold. See what happens when we 
meet here. And, guess what? Nothing happened. There is no agenda. So 
what they are saying is that, well, the Ethics Committee will be 
leaving for Members to be able to work in their districts and to get 
reelected, and I am having a primary that I have to wait until after my 
primary to find out when the Ethics Committee intends to have a 
hearing. And then that hearing comes just before, maybe, the general 
election.
  There must be something wrong with the rules, because people would 
advise me that I can only hurt myself by coming before this committee. 
Nobody has tried to protect the integrity of the Congress with 2 years, 
almost 2 years of investigation. They said the mistakes that Rangel has 
made should be public, and it should have been public earlier than now. 
And I couldn't say anything because I didn't want to offend and don't 
want to offend the Ethics Committee. But the Ethics Committee won't 
even tell me when I am going to have a hearing.
  And, heck, people who are concerned about me, I am 80 years old. I 
don't want to die before the hearing. And I think my electorate are 
entitled to find out who their Congressman for 40 years is. Who am I? 
Am I corrupt? Did I get a nickel? What did they offer me. And I want to 
be a role model for new Members and tell them the mistakes I made so 
they don't make them.
  So they list foundations that specialize in providing funds for 
education for kids. So I am convinced that the President wants some 
dignity in knowing that not only am I one of his strongest supporters, 
but I know that you know that unless we are able to provide education 
for every child that is there, almost by any means possible, that our 
Nation's national security is being threatened by foreigners, our 
ability to be ahead of the curve in terms of trade. And nobody is more 
supportive of the President in trade. Clear up some of the things in 
the Korean bill so you don't hurt us. Clean up a little corruption and 
violence in Colombia and move on with the thing. So the whole idea is 
really me trying to have some dignity in making certain that America is 
stronger.
  Now, the thing is that in the haste of sending out hundreds of 
letters, never asking for a penny, but still suggesting I wish you 
would meet with these people, because I knew that I would hope that 
they would convince them to provide money. Now, a lot of people have 
done that. That doesn't mean it is right. But the rules have changed. 
So there has to be a penalty for grabbing the wrong stationery and not 
really doing the right thing.
  But it is not corrupt. It may be stupid, it may be negligent, but it 
is not corrupt. And there is no indication that any sworn committee 
would say I received a benefit.
  Some might say that the benefit was that you have a legacy with your 
name

[[Page 15442]]

up there. Well, I wish you would go to my Web site to take a look at my 
answers. This is a broken-down building that you have to run away from 
if someone is going to put your name on it. But it is still there.
  Then they say that I would receive a luxurious office. The sworn 
testimony was they never told me they were giving it to me. Who the 
heck needs an office with 40 years of service in the Congress in a 
broken down building? Then they said, hey, we didn't ask him. We just 
put it in there so that we encourage people to put it in there. They 
said the name they thought was not a benefit for me, but a benefit in 
order to get money.
  So I can't imagine why, in the course of all of these things, that I 
used government personnel, I didn't buy stamps--well, if you think that 
it is official and you are wrong, then I violated the franking 
benefits.
  And at the end of the day, the inferences are very serious, and 
mistakes can be made and these things shouldn't have happened. But I 
can't walk away and have you guys doing your campaign because I am 
annoying, and the action is out there calling me corrupt.
  And no one is coming forward saying Rangel is not corrupt. Rangel 
didn't make a nickel. No witness ever said there was preferential 
treatment given. And the one guy that had an issue before the Senate, 
staff, Republicans, everybody said it never came before the House but 
they keep putting it down there. And guess what? It was the district 
attorney of New York over 40 years that suggested that I meet with him 
because he was in the education philanthropic business, in addition to 
having business in the Senate, which Republicans and Democrats say 
never came to the Ways and Means Committee, and staff certainly can 
prove it.

                              {time}  1300

  I don't know how far to go with making a mistake and trying to help 
kids, but you have to be very careful, new Members, of making certain 
when they change the rules that you know what happens. And I'm prepared 
to say I'm sorry for any embarrassment that has caused.
  Another issue has to do with having an office, a congressional 
office, in the building that I live in. Now, forever people have said 
that I have taken advantage and had four rent-controlled, stabilized 
apartments. Nobody has said that the Ethics Committee never found four 
stabilized apartments. No one said I broke any laws. No one said that 
the apartment that they considered two had always been considered one 
at the least. No one said that 10 years ago there was an apartment, 
one-bedroom apartment, that I got for my family, for my political 
friends that I no longer have. But the concern was, well, how do you 
explain the congressional office?
  Well, let's read the landlord's testimony. He said he was 20 percent 
vacant, that he needed money, that he knew that the checks were paid by 
the congressional committee, that the mail came in there ``Rangel for 
Congress,'' and that the lawyers have told him and the officials of the 
city and State of New York that there was no violation of any law or 
rules.
  And what was the benefit? The benefit was that your colleague and 
friend was not sensitive to the fact that there was appearance as 
though I was being treated differently than anyone else. But the 
landlord said he didn't treat me any differently, no one said that they 
did treat me differently, but I have to admit that I wasn't sensitive 
to anything because I never felt then that I was treated any 
differently than anybody else. And so that ends the apartment thing, 
but I plead guilty of not being sensitive.
  Now when it comes to the negligence of the disclosures and the tax 
issues, there is absolutely no excuse that's there. When accusations 
were made, I hired a forensics accountant and told them to check out 
what the heck is going on, because I want to make certain that when I 
stand up and speak, that it's true.
  Well, after I found out it was far more serious than the accusations, 
I then referred it to the Ethics Committee. It wasn't as though someone 
tracked me down, the IRS or the Clerk of the House. I filed the correct 
papers. And the taxes that were paid, an accountant might say that, had 
my accountant recognized that this $32,000 down payment for a house in 
the Dominican Republic that was promised to be paid for in 7 years 
would be a complete failure, and if indeed they did not give me one 
nickel, but whenever they thought they were making a dollar or two, 
they reduced the mortgage, then there is no question--you don't have to 
be a tax expert to know that if you didn't report that income, 
notwithstanding the fact that if you had done the right thing you would 
have no liability because the taxes that were paid to the Dominican 
Republic would have been deducted and with depreciation I would have no 
liability.
  Having said that, is that an excuse that is worthy? Of course not. 
And the fact that there was negligence on the part of the person that 
for 20 years did it and the fact that I signed it does not really give 
an excuse as to why I should not apologize to this body for not paying 
the attention to it that I should have paid to it. But there is not one 
scintilla bit of evidence that the negligence involved in the 
disclosures, that there was some way to hide from the public what I had 
because the value of the property, they would say, was $25,000, 
$100,000, $200,000--whatever it would be--that it didn't make any sense 
that I was trying to disclose it.
  So why did I take the floor today when I haven't found one lawyer 
that said I should do it, I haven't even found one friend that said I 
should do it, but I thought about it. If the lawyers are going to 
continue to charge me--and I don't even know when the hearing is going 
to be, and I can't tell them I want one and not six lawyers--I don't 
want to offend the Ethics Committee. They're doing the best they can.
  But I'm in the position that, hey, I'm 80 years old. All my life has 
been, from the beginning, public service. That's all I've ever done, 
been in the Army, been a State legislator, been a Federal prosecutor, 
40 years here. And all I'm saying is that if it is the judgment of 
people here, for whatever reason, that I resign, then, heck, have the 
Ethics Committee expedite this. Don't leave me swinging in the wind 
until November.
  If this is an emergency--and I think it is to help our local and 
State governments out--what about me? I don't want anyone to feel 
embarrassed, awkward. Hey, if I was you, I may want me to go away, too. 
I am not going away. I am here.
  I'm not saying there is any partisanship in this. Because if I knew 
of all the people that have been accused of accusations, I'm in a close 
district and they were Republicans, I would give a couple of moments of 
thought to see whether or not--especially if I didn't have anything to 
work with to get reelected--I would say, hey, take a look at these 
Republicans. They've been accused.
  But I don't really think that the unfairness of this is to me. I 
don't take it personally. I'm thinking about all of you.
  If the President wants dignity, let's have dignity in this House 
where the Ethics Committee means something and that none of you, if the 
newspapers say anything, will have to wait 2 years before you can say 
``no comment.''
  And, in addition to that, once they make the accusations, they have 
no business making any mistakes in saying that I didn't cooperate. I've 
got papers with my signature on it. I've got papers that said I tried 
my darnedest. I've got papers where my lawyer tells me she had every 
reason to believe that the full committee would sign on there. There 
was space for people to sign. I'm the only one signing. I don't know 
what changed their minds about settling this case.
  But my lawyer says, don't offend them. My friends say, don't go to 
the floor. And I say, what are you going to do me? Suppose I do get 
emotional, suppose I do think of my life, the beginning and the end, 
are you going to expel me from this body? Are you going to say that, 
while there is no evidence that I took a nickel, asked for a nickel, 
that there is no sworn testimony, no conflict, that I have to leave 
here?
  As much as I love you Democrats that figure it would be easier for 
you,

[[Page 15443]]

I'm the guy that was raising money in Republican districts to get you 
here, but that doesn't mean that I criticize you for saying, hey, 
that's great then, but I'm running for reelection now. I mean, do what 
you have to do.
  And, Republicans, hey, you don't have much to run on, but, what the 
hell, if Rangel is an embarrassment based on newspaper articles, I can 
see why you would do it.
  But think. Think. Isn't this historically the first time that it 
appears as though partisanship has entered the Ethics Committee? Isn't 
it historically the first time that the recommendations of the 
subcommittee of investigation is turned down? And, darn, who in the 
heck would want somebody who politically called you ``corrupt'' to be 
the ranking bipartisan guy to judge you?
  Now I don't expect answers today, and I know you're going home, and I 
wish all of you well. But at the end of the day, somebody, somebody has 
to do more than wish I go away. Somebody has to tell me, when does 
Rangel get a chance to talk to witnesses? I haven't talked with any 
member of the Ethics Committee in terms of settlement. My lawyers have.

                              {time}  1310

  I haven't talked with any of the witnesses. And they had to expedite 
this case. In other words, I have a shorter time to prepare, for 
reasons that they tell me, don't challenge the Ethics Committee; they 
make up this stuff as they go along.
  My lawyer, I can understand how financially this thing can go on 
longer than I can afford. But she is willing to assist me in working 
out something in pro bono, and I will expect the leadership to help me.
  Don't let this happen to you. Don't walk away from here because it is 
convenient that I disappear because not all of you will be able to 
withstand it, as I have. If there is no issue of corruption, if 
everybody, including the leader over here, has to start off with what a 
great American I am before he drops the bomb, well, I think that should 
count for something. And I am not asking for leniency. I am asking for 
exposure of the facts. They have made a decision. I want you to make a 
decision.
  Now, I apologize to the leadership. I feel for those people, 
especially newcomers that love this place so much that, like someone 
said: Charlie, they all love you. And I paused, and so they finished 
with: But they love themselves better. I understand that, you know. But 
for God's sake, just don't believe that I don't have feelings, that I 
don't have pride, that I do want the dignity that the President has 
said. And the dignity is that even if you see fit to cause me not to be 
able to come back, because you are not going to do it in my district, 
but if there is some recommendation that I be expelled, for me, for me, 
that would be dignity because it shows openly that this system isn't 
working for me. And I hope some of you might think, if it doesn't work 
for me, that it may not work for you.
  So I know we are anxious to get home. I know I can't get on the 
agenda. I know that some time somewhere I will have a hearing. So while 
you are saying I should resign, I do hope that you might think about 
what happens if the whole country starts thinking it is better that you 
resign and don't make anyone feel uncomfortable than to have the truth, 
at least a person an opportunity to say you have made alleged 
violations. I'm saying you are wrong based on sworn testimony. And I 
want somebody, and I don't think it is going to be people who have been 
critical of me for doing the same thing that is going to be the judge.
  I know outside doesn't count because we judge the conduct of our own 
Members. Adam Powell knew that when they wouldn't let him be seated; 
and the courts, of course, overruled it. But if I can't get my dignity 
back here, then fire your best shot in getting rid of me through 
expulsion.
  Now I apologize for any embarrassment that I have caused. I'm 
prepared to admit, and try to let young people know that you never get 
too big to recognize that these rules are for junior Members, as they 
are for senior Members, and that you can't get so carried away with 
good intentions that you break the rules because the rules are there to 
make certain that we have some order, some discipline and respect for 
the rules.
  And I violated that, and I am apologizing for it. And I don't think 
apologies mean that this is a light matter. It is very serious.
  But corruption? No evidence, no suggestion that this was ever found. 
And lastly, I close by saying that there is an organization that some 
of you know, certainly DCCC, National Truth in Government, and 
whatever, and the only thing I can say that some of my more important 
Democrats are on the list that sent out mail soliciting money in order 
to get rid of me even before I became the chairman. They have a Web 
site that I will be giving you because they got a lot of our Members, 
including Black Caucus members on their list. One I do remember is send 
your money in now, we've got Rangel against the ropes and we're going 
to get rid of him. Everyone knows who they are. They followed me on 
vacation. They followed me when I was doing business. They're at the 
airport. They're outside where I live. It is kind of rough.
  I'm sensitive to your feelings and the hard work by the Ethics 
Committee, but this has to stop some time. It has to stop. One month; 1 
year; 2 years; primaries; election. And all I'm saying is I deserve and 
demand the right to be heard. And if I hurt anybody's feelings, believe 
me, it is the equity and the fairness and the justice that I'm asking 
for, and not your feelings. We are entitled to our political feelings 
and what we want done. But we have to respect each other and this 
institution which I love. I love my country. I love my Congress. And 
there is nothing I wouldn't do to preserve this from going on. I love 
the disagreements. I love the debates. I love the arguments. But you 
are not going to tell me to resign to make you feel comfortable.
  So to all of those who tried to help me to help myself, let me 
appreciate it. And for those who disagree, I'm sorry, but that is one 
thing you can't take away from me. So thank you for listening. I do 
hope that you have a pleasant time while you are away. And maybe, just 
maybe, the members of the Ethics Committee might think about telling me 
when they think they might have a hearing so that whatever they decide, 
I can let my constituents, my family, and my friends know that I did 
the best I could as an American, as a patriot, and someone that loves 
this country.
  Thank you for your attention. Go home.

                          ____________________