Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Rangel Won't Resign To Make Democrats Comfortable
By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 11, 2010
Modified Aug 11, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
By
Jen Chung
Published Aug 11, 2010
Modified Aug 11, 2010
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Rep. Charles Rangel, the long-serving Harlem Democrat facing numerous House ethics violations, took to the floor of the House of Representatives and gave a rambling 30-minute speech telling his colleagues (and America!) that he's not resigning: "Hey, if I was you, I may want me to go away too. I am not going away. I am here... You're not going to tell me to resign to make you feel comfortable. And for those who disagree, I'm sorry, but that's one thing you can't take away from me." Naturally, the GOP must be pretty happy!
He also added that he asked for a speedy hearing, but didn't hear back, "I’m 80 years old. I don’t want to die before the hearing... Don’t leave me swinging in the wind until November." (November is when he presumably (if he wins his primary) would win another term for Congress.) Rangel said, "I am asking for exposure of the facts... If I can’t get my dignity back here. then fire your best shot of getting rid of me through expulsion."
The Washington Post reports that House Speaker Nancy Pelosi left midway during Rangel's speech and some Democratic House members "looked stricken" when approached by reporters after Rangel's remarks. "Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz merely rolled her eyes and shook her head." Also from the WaPo:
Rangel rambled through the allegations against him. Fundraising with official letterhead: "Grabbing the wrong stationery." The center named after him at the City University of New York: "A broken-down building." The office in the rent-controlled apartment: "The landlord has said he didn't treat me differently." The unpaid taxes on his Caribbean vacation place: "You'd have to be a tax expert" to get that right, said the deposed chairman of the tax-writing committee.
If you've got 30 minutes, you can watch the whole thing:
Rangel's big birthday dinner fundraiser at the Plaza Hotel tonight; the big question is who will show up to support the embattled Congressman.
Tagged
charles rangel
Hearing
House Democrats
house ethics committee
house ethics investigation
trial
Jen Chung
Jen Chung is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
NYC Council to scrutinize snow removal plans as winter approaches
Lawmakers will review the city's preparations and consider a bill requiring the city to publish historical snowplowing records.
By
Catalina Gonella
Published Nov 1, 2026 at 5:46 p.m. ET
'The best day of the year': Inside Clinton Hill's 'mile nine' NYC marathon party
An estimated 2 million people came out on Sunday to cheer on the marathon runners. Clinton Hill hosted one of the city's most exuberant watch parties.
By
Stephanie Keith
News
'The best day of the year': Inside Clinton Hill's 'mile nine' NYC marathon party
An estimated 2 million people came out on Sunday to cheer on the marathon runners. Clinton Hill hosted one of the city's most exuberant watch parties.
By
Stephanie Keith
November has 3 meteor showers and the best chance to see Uranus
By
Rosemary Misdary
A 'beautiful' day for a marathon, as runners, spectators pack NYC streets
By
Walter Wuthmann
Calif. judge cites 'mountain of evidence' ICE racially profiled Latinos, drawing NY notice
By
Herb Pinder
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .