By 
Charlie Rangel
Charles Bernard Rangel is the U.S. Representative for New York's 15th congressional district, serving since 1971. He says he has been in public service for 50 years. He is 80 years old and doesn't act his age, say people who know him intimately.
Like when he walked out, in a huff, from a House of Representatives' 'jury room' this week.
Rangel has been accused in 13 House counts of financial and fundraising misconduct that violated the chamber's rules.
If the panel finds that Rangel broke the rules, the House ethics committee could recommend that the House vote to condemn Rangel's conduct.
But they can't expel him from the House of Representatives as they had done with another House member, James Traficant, D-Ohio. He was expelled after a criminal conviction for racketeering. Traficant served a seven-year prison term and was released in 2009.
But in Rangel's case, he is not charged with either corrupt or criminal practices. Only with breaking numerous House disclosure rules involving his personal investments.
The ethics investigation on Rangel goes back to at least July 2008.
James Traficant
Key charges portray Rangel as a veteran congressman who thought he could ignore rules on disclosing his assets.
Among the charges: Improperly using official resources, such as House stationery, to raise money for a college center that was a monument to his career.
Rangel claims he has spent about $2 million of his own money in legal defenses so far. He wants more time to scrape together additional funds to hire other lawyers.
It isn't going to happen. The House Ethics Committee is going to reprimand Rangel before the new Congress opens in January.
Rangel argues not giving him additional time isn't fair. We think it is.
What do you think?
