Rangel Deserves Reprimand: Ethics Subcommittee

Charles Rangel should be reprimanded for his financial impropriety, investigators with the House ethics committee said today. Reprimand is a less serious punishment than censure or expulsion, but Rangel nonetheless called the recommendation "untrue." The committee will consider the recommendation when his trial starts, likely in September, CNN reports. The full House must approve a reprimand, notes the Washington Post.

Rangel faces 13 counts of violating House rules, including using his former chairmanship of the Ways and Means Committee to steer political donations to favored causes, and tax and financial disclosure infractions relating to several homes and offices. Rangel admitted yesterday he may have been "overzealous," but noted the accusations involved no corruption. "I can't make an excuse for serious violations, but I can have an explanation of my intent," Rangel said. Click here for more on Rangel's case.