Rangel Keeps Up Appearances As Ethics Trial Looms
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With an ethics controversy swirling around him, Congressman Charles Rangel is refusing to run from the scandal and is instead trying to face his troubles head-on. NY1's Grace Rauh filed the following report.He's a high-profile politician embroiled in a nasty ethics controversy, but Congressman Charles Rangel isn't running from the limelight.
The dean of the New York Congressional delegation spent Sunday at the Dominican Day Parade and was on-hand Monday to unveil the new Willis Avenue Bridge, linking the Bronx with his Manhattan district. He even lingered to take questions about the 13 ethics charges against him and the House trial that may await him this fall.
"If I didn't believe in the system or believe in myself, I wouldn't be screaming for an open hearing. I would just say, which way does the Willis Avenue bridge go anyway, so I can go on it and get out of town," Rangel said.
Rangel isn't getting out of town. Instead, he's sticking around for what's meant to be a blowout birthday party and fundraiser for him at the Plaza Hotel on Wednesday.
Mayor Michael Bloomberg is expected to attend, along with Governor David Paterson. But much of the guest list is still up in the air as some politicians, including Democratic candidate for governor Andrew Cuomo, refuse to say whether they'll be there.
But come Wednesday night, there will be no secret about who is attending Rangel's party. In a break from past practice, the press has been invited to attend the festivities. It's yet another sign that Rangel is refusing to go quietly.
"My search at my age is for the darn truth," Rangel told reporters Monday.
Meanwhile, the embattled congressman is still hoping for a deal that would allow him to bypass a public ethics trial.
"If you say, 'Are you interested in allowing the truth to come out without going through a trial?' Yes. Yes," Rangel said.
Meanwhile, Rangel's allies still seem to have his back, even as they express concern about the allegations against him.
"Clearly he did something wrong, and I don't condone that. But I am still going to be his friend. You deplore the sin, but you love the sinner," said Congressman Dan Maffei of Syracuse.