Yesterday, it was noticed that Mayor Bloomberg was part of the host committee for Congressman Charles Rangel's big 82nd birthday gala-fundraiser, suggesting that Bloomberg would endorse the embattled politician. Now Bloomberg has officially thrown his support—along with former Mayor Ed Koch's—towards Rangel. 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 ›

The Observer's political reporter Azi Paybarah writes, "If you're friend is called a 'Judas,' it's probably not a good idea to keep using the metaphor," referring to Rep. Charles Rangel's remarks after a union leader likened Rep. Michael McMahon to "Judas" for voting against health care reform. Also not a good idea: Saying that Judas was forgiven when he wasn't—plus he went to hell (at least, that's what Dante says)! Here's Paybarah's video of Rangel learning what happened to Judas: more ›

The Daily News noticed an interesting mailing from Rep. Charles Rangel to his constituents in Harlem: A "glossy, full-color" flyer with tax season tips, which has Rangel saying, "Hopefully, the information in this guide can help put money back into your pockets," while the flyer itself adds, "This mailing was prepared, published and mailed at taxpayer expense." Rangel, of course, has been notoriously terrible with filing taxes on his various investments or home sales, even though he chaired the House Ways and Means Committee, which writes the tax code (he recently stepped down). One resident reflected, "Well, I think if anyone is going to tell you how to pay - or not pay - taxes, he's your guy." more ›

It's not a good time to be a Democratic politician. With elections just eight months away and Democratic leaders already under scrutiny for their positions on healthcare and the economy, ethics scandals involving Gov. Paterson, Rep. Charlie Rangel and Rep. Eric Massa have given Republicans another way to attack their rivals. more ›

What week it's been for Rep. Charles Rangel. He's gone from being found guilty of violating rules by the House Ethics panel and defiantly announcing he would run for a 21st term in Congress to "temporarily" stepping down from his position at House Ways and Means Committee chair. And now it seems that Rangel may not run for another term after all! more ›

This morning—after last week's admonishment for an ethics violation involving a trip to the Caribbean—Harlem representative Charlie Rangel announced he'd temporarily step down from his powerful post on the House Ways and Means Committee. Despite a bad attitude throughout the process, he claimed that from the "very very beginning" he had "offered" to give up his chairmanship, but that now he had "sent a letter to Speaker Nancy Pelosi, asking her to grant me a leave of absence." As justification, Rangel said he was taking leave in order “to avoid my colleagues having to defend me” during their campaigns. He didn't take questions. more ›

After an ethics panel found he broke the rules, reports are swirling that scandal-plagued Rep. Charles Rangel (D-Harlem) will step down as the powerful chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. While some media outlets said Rangel would step down tonight, Rangel said he was still chairman, but as for tomorrow "I can’t make all those promises at my age." NBC News' Chuck Todd Tweeted, "Sources tell me after agreeing to step aside, Rangel now having 2nd thots; hence the defiant denial... but: Rangel was made aware that he does not have the votes to survive a floor vote tmro on whether he should keep the gavel." There have been questions about Rangel for years, from rent-stabilized apartments to apparent tax amnesia. more ›

Yesterday, the Reverend Al Sharpton convened a meeting of Democratic leaders at Sylvia's restaurant in Harlem to discuss the Governor Paterson situation. Their stance: they should support Paterson to serve out the rest of his term. State Senator Eric Adams said, "We had a president that was able to lead in 50 states while he was being in a grand jury, while he was being under impeachment proceedings. If he can lead 50 states, then surely our governor can lead one state." more ›

Long-time Harlem Democrat Rep. Charles Rangel said yesterday that he’ll seek reelection, amid calls to resign. Rangel joined the House in 1970, and if he wins, he’ll serve out his 21st term, reports the Daily News. But despite his long record, peers have indicated they want him to step down, at least from his post on the House Ways and Means Committee, since an ethics panel found that he took a trip to the Caribbean paid for by corporate sponsors like AT&T. "Washington must be held to the highest ethical standards. Regrettably, with the finding of ethics violations, Charlie Rangel should step down from his leadership position,” said one Democrat, Rep. Paul Hodes from North Carolina. more ›

On NY1's "Road to City Hall" last night, former Mayor David Dinkins, Rep. Charles Rangel and former NY Secretary of State Basil Paterson (yes, the Governor's dad), appeared to remember their friend and colleague Percy Sutton, the trailblazing lawyer turned politician turned media mogul who passed away last week. The four men, who became powerful in Harlem politics, were known as the "Gang of Four," and Dinkins, Rangel and Paterson credited Sutton. Dinkins said, "We three and others have always said everybody stands on somebody's shoulders. And we say that we stand on Percy's shoulders." more ›

The Post reports that Rep. Charles Rangel "was inducted last week into the Order of Jamaica, the Caribbean commonwealth's highest distinction and the equivalent of knighthood," and then mocks, "The Gallant Knight of 125th Street -- who also holds distinguished titles such as Duke of Tax Dodge, Lord of Largesse and Sultan of Sweetheart Deals -- will join a list of other Order of Jamaica" like "Fidel Castro and murderous Zimbabwe strongman Robert Mugabe." Plus, there's this amazing photoillustration of Rangel with dreadlocks, a scepter and crown! more ›

The Washington Post devoted an editorial to repeat something it did in November: Ask Rep. Charles Rangel (D-Harlem) to "step aside as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee." This comes after last week's revelations that Rangel amended his financial reports, suddenly realizing there's $500,000 or maybe even over $1 million in assets he hadn't disclosed a few years ago. more ›

News about Rep. Charles Rangel's assets—and his problems disclosing them—continues to trickle in. After adding $500,000 in previously undisclosed assets to his 2007 finance report, the Post revealed that he also forgot to disclose the sale of a Harlem townhouse—worth as much as $1.3 million—and also that he "failed to reveal a staggering $3 million in various business transactions over the same period." This, from the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee! more ›

Oh, Charlie! Rep. Charles Rangel, the powerful Democrat from Harlem who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee, has now added "more than $500,000 in previously unreported assets" in an amended 2007 financial report. According to CQ Politics, among the additions are "an account at the Congressional Federal Credit Union worth at least $250,000, an investment account with at least $250,000, land in southern New Jersey and stock in PepsiCo and fast food conglomerate Yum! Brands. None of those investments appeared on the original report, which was filled out by hand and filed in May 2008." more ›

Rep. Charles Rangel apologized for his eyebrow-raising remarks on Saturday that suggested President Obama wouldn't be safe in Harlem. The Congressman said today, "It was entirely inappropriate to bring the President and his wife into this discussion during their visit to New York, and I hope my off-the-cuff comment did not cause embarrassment to anyone." more ›

It's politician vs. big newspaper pissing match! Representative Charles Rangel wasn't happy when the NY Times blew the lid on his four rent-stabilized apartments in Harlem (at a press conference, he told a Times reporter, "Don’t make yourself look more dumb than you want") over the summer. more ›