Following yesterday's tense rally at the Brooklyn Bridge which led to over 700 arrests, hundreds of Occupy Wall Street protesters continued to demonstrate after being released by police. "You go to Italy, you eat gelato. You go to a protest, you expect to be arrested. Nobody gets spooked by the arrests," said Baruch College student Daniel Levine. And as the coverage of the protest has increased, many celebrities and politicians have attempted show solidarity—and some have had uncomfortable experiences. more ›

It was less than a year ago that the House of Representatives voted to censure longtime Harlem Congressman Charles Rangel for a series of ethic violations, which Rangel called "embarrassing" and "painful." Yesterday, Rangel chortled, "Anyone who wants to ask about the Ethics Committee, I'm not answering any questions," when his portrait was unveiled at the Capitol yesterday (the Daily News said that line was greeted with "applause and laughter"). more ›

Remember how during Rep. Anthony Weiner's Monday press conference, he said the women ("about six" of them to be precise) he was having sexually explicit online relationships with were adults "to the best of my knowledge"? Well, it turns out he was also Twitter direct messaging a 17-year-old Delaware girl. According to Fox News, "Police here [in New Castle] are investigating direct online communications between...Weiner and a 17-year-old girl and are looking for any other young women who may be involved, though the nature of the communications wasn't immediately clear." more ›

Finally, Rep. Charles Rangel, who was censured by the House of Representatives last year, has weighed in on fellow Congressional member Anthony Weiner's woes. According to Politicker NY, Rangel told reporters, "Not one person has given any reason for a resignation. The Constitution is abundantly clear" on proper Congressional member conduct. more ›

Fresh from explaining what the U.S. is doing in Libya last night President Obama is in town today, messing with traffic and attending a $30,800-a-head DNC fundraising dinner at Red Rooster in Harlem with the likes of former mayor David Dinkins and Rep. Charles Rangel (and more). And apparently not everyone is happy about it—because people are always happy with everything presidents do, right? more ›

Charlie Rangel is not planning on leaving anytime soon. Despite a rough past few years (did somebody say ethics violations?) the 80-year-old Harlem Democrat filed the paperwork to seek a 22nd term in 2012. Because of his age, many suspected this would be Rangel's last term, but Rangel apparently filed the surprise paperwork so early to get a jump on fundraising—he's got a March 2 event already lined up. Those looking to toast with the "dean of the NY delegation" will need to pony up $1,000-$5,000 a ticket. more ›

Yesterday, politicians of all parties came together to support Arizona Rep. Gabrielle Giffords's speedy recovery after she was shot in the head at her "Congress at Your Corner" event in Tuscon. Suspected gunman Jared Lee Loughner is currently in federal custody, and many New York politicians have released statements on the unthinkable event. "This hateful crime is a tragedy beyond words," said Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, who dined with Giffords less than a week ago. "More than just a rising political star and phenomenal talent, she is an incredible person." more ›

Everyone's favorite censured congressman, one Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-Manhattan), has some hefty lawyers bills to pay after all that ethics violation bother. So he is turning to you, his friends and neighbors, to help him out in a tight spot (worked great last time?). Today Rangel announced that he has started a defense fund where supporters can donate up to $5k to the cause. Because what better to give a man censured for financial shenanigans than cash? In all seriousness though, the fund aims to be on the up-and-up with former New York State comptroller H. Carl McCall acting as trustee and quarterly contribution disclosures planned. more ›

The first thing Google suggests when you type in Harlem currently is "Harlem Hospital." So of course locals would be upset at the rumors that the financially troubled hospital would be closing. So let's be clear everybody: Harlem Hospital is not closing. It is just, like most hospitals these days, going through a tough time. more ›

Last night, among the stars and Beltway insiders attending the Kennedy Center Honors was a certain veteran Congressman who had a terrible week. Yes, Rep. Charles Rangel (D-Harlem) was in Washington D.C. attending the glittering event that paid tribute to Oprah Winfrey, Paul McCartney, Bill T. Jones, Merle Haggard and others. But do you know what else Rangel did yesterday? Discuss his censure: He told CNN's Candy Crowley, "It was an embarrassing and painful experience." more ›

Rep. Charles Rangel, the longtime Harlem Democrat, returned to his district and was defiant about being censured by his House colleagues over ethics violations. At an emergency town hall meeting about Harlem Hospital's fate, where people gave him a standing ovation, he said, "I was not found guilty of corruption, I did not go to bed with kids, I did not hurt the house speaker, I did not start a revolution against the United States of America, I did not steal any money, I did not take any bribes and that is abundantly clear." more ›

Now that Rep. Charles Rangel has been censured by the House for ethics violations, the question is whether he'll keep the Harlem Congressional seat he's held since 1970. The Daily News' Gatecrasher reports that apparently lame duck Governor David Paterson's name has been bandied about as a possible replacement: Even in spite of Paterson's baggage, a "Washington Insider says 'speculation around David has become hotter' over the last few weeks." more ›

The House of Representatives is expected to vote today on whether Rep. Charles Rangel (D-Manhattan) should be censured for his ethics violations, prompting the 80-year-old lawmaker to reach out to his supporters. In an e-mail, he wrote, "Can you make a call for me?" asking them to call the House switchboard and "urge your member of Congress to speak against the sanction resolution and encourage them to vote against the censure on the House floor." more ›

Rep. Charles Rangel, the 40-year veteran of the House, is hoping to avoid censure for the ethics violations related to multiple rent-stabilized apartments, bad financial accounting, trying to solicit donations for the graduate school being named after him at City College, and more. The House is supposed to vote on whether to censure him this week, and he has reportedly been seeking time to speak to colleagues before the vote. more ›

While Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) faces possible censure (aka public humiliation for numerous ethics violations, he has also expressed hope that his colleagues will consider that he did not intend to bring disgrace on the House or enrich himself personally. Many outside the Beltway think he should be censured and then some, but his friends rallied for him yesterday. Former mayor David Dinkins said at a Harlem church, "He does not deserve any further punishment." more ›

Yesterday, the House Ethics panel voted, 9 to 1, that Rep. Charles Rangel should face formal censure for his ethics violations, including multiple rent-stabilized apartments, financial mishaps, and his work to solicit donations for a City College school named after him. Rangel was near tears and needed time to compose himself before speaking (see video below), "I don't know how much longer I have to live... I hope you can see your way clear to indicate any action taken by me was not with the intention of bringing any disgrace on the House or enriching myself personally." more ›

Right now, the House Ethics Committee is deciding how to punish longtime member Rep. Charles Rangel (D-Harlem) for his ethics violations, which include his multiple rent-stabilized apartments, attempts to get donations for a City College school being named after him and various financial problems. Rangel issued a statement this morning, saying, "The Committee has not met its burden of proof in presenting clear and convincing evidence that Charlie Rangel has deviated from his sense of duty to this Body and this great country," but adding, "I hope my four decades of service merit a sanction that is in keeping with and no greater than House precedents and also contains a drop of fairness and mercy." more ›

After a House Ethics panel found him guilty of 11 ethics violations yesterday, Rep. Charles Rangel issued a statement calling the process, which was two years in the making, "unfair," noting, "How can anyone have confidence in the decision of the ethics subcommittee when I was deprived of due process rights, right to counsel and was not even in the room? I can only hope that the full committee will treat me more fairly, and take into account my entire 40 years of service to the Congress before making any decisions on sanctions." more ›

Yesterday, Rep. Charles Rangel walked out of his House Ethics hearing, after begging his colleagues for a postponement so he could find a lawyer. As the Washington Post reports, "No, they said, and quickly began deliberations, saying the facts were so clear they didn't need to call witnesses." The panel, made up of four Democrats and four Republicans, deliberated for hours yesterday and will continue deliberations today. Update: Rangel was found guilty of ethics violations; more details below. more ›

Today, Rep. Charles Rangel's ethics hearing started. But the longtime Harlem Congressman asked for a postponement, saying he needed time to set up a legal defense fund and get a lawyer, and added that he was denied due process, "Fifty years of public service is on the line." more ›

Last night, embattled longtime House member Rep. Charles Rangel won the Democratic primary for the 15th Congressional seat in Harlem. He had 50% of the vote; the next closest challenger was Adam Clayton Powell IV, who had about 24%. The 80-year-old told his supporters, "I don’t know how this will be misconstrued by the press. But no matter what they say, I go back to Washington a stronger man than I have ever been." more ›

If you're a registered Democrat or Republican, you can vote in tomorrow's primary. Besides getting a chance to participate in the democratic (small d) process, you'll also get a chance to come face-to-face with one of the new voting machines—no more old-fashioned lever machines, it's now time for newfangled scanners (time for our own Lizard People vote?). more ›

Hey, it's time for another NY Times poll. This one asked registered voters in Manhattan about Rep. Charles Rangel: "70 percent of Manhattan voters want him to end his Congressional career: 46 percent said he should give up his campaign and step down at the end of his term, and 24 percent said he should resign now. Twenty-three percent said he should seek a new term." more ›

Rep. Charles Rangel, the 20-term politician who is facing trial for numerous House ethics violations, defiantly vowed to fight, fight, fight for renomination. Appearing this weekend at an outdoor celebration organized by church leaders in Harlem, Rangel decided that the best way to frame his fight was to play the "race card," as the Post so eloquently puts it: "All of you remember that this fight is never, never going to end. I'm just one of the foot soldiers; just one of those [who] fought in the march so that one day our kids [will] be able to say, 'Do you remember when there was bigotry and prejudice in this country? Do you remember when there wasn't fairness?'" more ›

Yesterday, there was a candidates forum for the 30th District Congressional seat, which is now held by embattled Rep. Charles Rangel. Even though his rivals discussed his "years and years of corruption" and "The corruption that Congressman Rangel is a part of is being in Congress for 40 years," the NY Times reports that the crowd was pro-Rangel, booing and jeering his challengers. And Rangel took President Obama to task for suggesting he should retire and "end his career with dignity." The 80-year-old said, "Frankly, he has not been around long enough to determine what my dignity is. For the next two years, I will be more likely to protect his dignity." more ›

Republican gubernatorial candidate Rick Lazio has stopped talking about the mosque for a second and is now drawing attention to his Democratic rival Andrew Cuomo's attendance at Rep. Charles Rangel's birthday party at the Plaza Hotel. Lazio's campaign website says, "Last night, Andrew Cuomo toasted Charlie Rangel, a dear friend and colleague in New York's Special Interest Government at the opulent Plaza Hotel..." more ›

Rep. Charles Rangel may be getting worked over by colleagues and constituents over his many, many Ethics violations, but last night was time to par-tay: His birthday party/fundraiser attracted many top Democrats, including Governor Paterson, gubernatorial hopeful Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, Senators Charles Schumer and Kirsten Gillibrand, and Mayor Bloomberg (okay, he's a former Democrat). And former Mayor David Dinkins, Rangel's longtime friend and fellow Gang of Four member, flipped the bird at a protester outside the Plaza Hotel! That's what friends are for—that's also one of the songs that Dionne Warwick sang during the event. more ›