Rep. Charles Rangel was convicted today on 11 counts of breaking ethics rules and is now awaiting punishment. Rangel failed to report $600,000 to the IRS and was using a subsidized apartment as a campaigning office when it was supposed to be used for rental to low income families. It is also reported he failed to report income from a rental in the Dominican Republic and misused donated funds.
He was forced to step down as Ways and Means chairman last March due to charges that he used money from corporations to take Caribbean vacations.
Charles Rangel is 80 years old and has served 20 years in the house, a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus and is very popular in Harlem, NYC. He has confessed to several charges of misconduct and awaits his fate.
This is a hard blow to Rangel supporters since he was popular because of his support of low income neighborhoods and his open display of disapproval towards corrupt politicians.
