Charlie Rangel Has Seen Better Days

Bad news for scandal-ridden Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.). As The New York Times reports, a House panel has convicted the impeccably-attired former Ways and Means Committee chairman of 12 ethics violations, including failing to pay taxes, failing to report rental income from his villa in the Dominican Republic, using a rent-stabilized New York residential apartment as a campaign office (Rangel maintains three other rent-stabilized apartments for the mundane business of living), and "accepting benefits under circumstances that could be construed as influencing the performance of his governmental duties." But at least there's a sunny side:

Ethics experts say the committee is likely to issue Mr. Rangel only a letter of reprimand or a formal censure. While the committee has the power to expel, that has happened only rarely and is considered highly unlikely.

Whew! I'd hate to see a powerful government official held responsible for his actions. What kind of message would that send to the children?

More details here, including the full list of ethics charges.