Rep. Charles Rangel of New York is temporarily resigning his position on the House Ways and Means Committee.
Rep. Charles Rangel of New York is temporarily resigning his position on the House Ways and Means Committee.
Charles, the committee’s chairman, announced the move today after requesting leave in a letter sent to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the Washington Post reports. The Harlem politician explained his decision in statement released today, saying that he stepping down to “avoid my colleagues having to defend me during their elections.”
The Harlem politician was speaking about mid-term elections for the House of Representatives. This fall Democrats will be fighting to maintain control of Congress as seats in both the House and Senate will open up.
Nancy granted Charles temporary resignation, saying, "I commend Chairman Rangel for his decades of leadership on jobs, health care, and the most significant economic issues of the day.”
Charles, a 20-term incumbent, recently came under fire for accepting corporately financed travel, which is against House rules. This news signifies a complete 180 from his stance last night when he asserted that he would remain in his position. He is now the highest ranking House official to resign as the result over an ethics investigation. Rep. Tom DeLay stepped down about four years ago as majority leader after he was indicted on conspiracy charges leveled against him during campaign finance probe.
Legislators said that Charles will be replaced by the committee’s next most senior member, Rep. Fortney Stark of California. He was also the focus of an ethics probe, but he has been cleared on charges. Fortney told panel members that he is only accepting the responsibility for the interim.
– Sonya Eskridge
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