WASHINGTON — Former committee Chairman Rep.
Charles Rangel attempted a last-minute plea deal Tuesday to head off a House ethics trial.
The talks between Rangel’s lawyer and the House ethics committee’s nonpartisan attorneys were confirmed by ethics Chairman Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif. She said she is not involved in the talks, adding that the committee’s lawmakers have always accepted the professional staff’s recommendations in previous plea bargains.
Rangel, D-N.Y., the former Ways and Means Committee chairman, would have to admit to multiple, substantial ethics violations unless ethics lawyers dramatically changed their negotiating stance.
Earlier negotiations broke down when Rangel would only admit to some allegations - not enough to satisfy the ethics committee lawyers, according to people familiar with those talks who were not authorized to be quoted by name.
Rangel, a 40-year House veteran who is 80 years old, stepped down from his chairmanship in March when the ethics committee found he should have known that corporations financed two trips to Caribbean conferences.
If the negotiations are not successful, trial proceedings for the Harlem congressman would begin Thursday with a public reading of purported ethics violations that are still confidential.
A subcommittee of four Democrats and four Republicans, led by Lofgren, wouldthen conduct the actual trial later and decide whether the charges are proved by clear and convincing evidence.
The trial committee would be made up of lawmakers who were not part of the investigative panel that charged Rangel with multiple violations connected to his fundraising, financial disclosure and failure to pay taxes on income from a resort unit.
The trial committee can decide whether to conduct some of its proceedings in public.
If there is a plea bargain or a finding that the evidence supports the charges, the ethics committee would make a decision on punishment that could range from a critical report, to a censure by the House or an expulsion vote.
A House investigative committee last week cited Rangel for multiple purported violations. People familiar with the charges, who were not authorized to be quoted, said they related in part, to:
Rangel’s use of official stationery to raise money for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at City College of New York.
A possible role in preserving a tax shelter for an oil drilling company, Nabors Industries, whose chief executive donated money to the Rangel Center while Ways and Means considered legislation that would affect the shelter.
Rangel’s use of four rent subsidized apartment units in New York City.
Rangel’s failure to report income as required on his annual financial disclosure forms.
Information for this article was contributed by Ann Sanner of The Associated Press.
Front Section, Pages 3 on 07/28/2010