Democrat Cong. Rangel Found Guilty on 11 Counts by House Ethics Panel

Texas Cong. Michael McCaul Ranking Republican on Adjudicatory Subcommittee which ruled video below Texas Insider Report: WASHINGTON D.C. The House Ethics Panel  found Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel (NY) guilty on 11 counts of breaking House rules. Possible punishments include denial of House privileges a floor vote deploring Rangels conduct or fine. The full ethics committee will next conduct a hearing on the appropriate punishment for the former Ways & Means Committee chairman prior to making a formal recommendation to the House.   The 80-year-old congressman from Harlem was charged with 13 counts of financial and fundraising wrongdoing. The 8-member Ethics Panel including Texas Congressman Michael McCaul of Austin & Mike Conaway of Midland sat as jury to judge Rangels conduct. Said Rep. McCaul who serves as ranking Republican on the adjudicatory subcommittee which ruled on the case today

Just let me state first that no one asked for this assignment.  Sitting in judgment of a fellow member a colleague  is a very difficult task but I believe all the members of this subcommittee have handled themselves in a very non-partisan professional manner which I hope will restore credibility to the House of Representatives. 

We were able to reach consensus on 12 of the 13 counts with count 3 being a split vote (4 to 4).  When we look at count 13 it talks about reflecting credibility on the House and discussing dishonor.  I am hopeful as we move forward with this matter into the next phase that at the end of the day we will be able to begin an era of transparency and accountability a new era of ethics that will restore the credibility of this House the peoples house" McCaul said.

The eight-member panel held closed-door deliberations in the ethics trial of Democratic Rep. Charles Rangel of New York accused in 13 counts of engaging in financial and fundraising misconduct. Still left to be decided is appropriate punishment for the former Ways and Means Committee chairmans violation of House rules. The 20-term New York Democrat walked out of the trial on Monday pleading unsuccessfully for time to hire new lawyers. He said his former lawyers abandoned him after he paid them some $2 million but that he could no longer afford them.