Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
House Votes 333-79 To Censure Rangel
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 2, 2010
Modified Dec 2, 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 Dec 2, 2010
Modified Dec 2, 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
The House of Representatives voted overwhelmingly to censure Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) for nearly a dozen ethics violations. Censure is the second most severe punishment the House can give its members, after expulsion. Roll Call reports, "More than 100 Democrats and a handful of Republicans voted to reduce Rangel’s punishment from censure to reprimand, but that motion was defeated. In the final vote that followed on censure, fewer Democrats sided with Rangel, and the House approved the penalty on a vote of 333-79." This is the first time since 1983 that a member of the House has been censured.
Rangel told his colleagues, "I know in my heart I am not going to be judged by this Congress. I’ll be judged by my life in its entirety," but said, "I brought it on my myself, but I still believe this body has to be guided by fairness," and pointed out his actions were not for personal enrichment. Rangel had also cited his Korean war service, but the head of the House Ethics committee panel that recommended censure, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-California), said, "That service does not excuse the fact that Rep. Rangel violated laws. He violated regulations. He violated the rules of this House... We found his actions, and accumulations of actions, reflected poorly on the institutions of the House."
Some colleagues defended him. Rep. Peter King (R-LI), who rarely agrees with Rangel, said that he didn't see any real crime, "If expulsion is the death penalty, then censure is life in prison. Why, today, are we being asked to reverse 200 years of precedents?"
Tagged
censure
charles rangel
house ethics
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
MTA to begin 6-year project to upgrade signal tech on A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens
The $1.9 billion project isn't expected to wrap up until 2032.
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
Published Oct 22, 2026 at 12:59 p.m. ET
Former NYPD detective held on $1M bail after police say he shot driver on GWB
Officials say retired NYPD detective Victor Romero, 62, killed 46-year-old Koran Irvine in a road rage incident.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
News
Former NYPD detective held on $1M bail after police say he shot driver on GWB
Officials say retired NYPD detective Victor Romero, 62, killed 46-year-old Koran Irvine in a road rage incident.
By
Brittany Kriegstein
MTA suspending bus fare enforcement teams after altercations emerge
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
NYC's horse carriage industry facing potential extinction with Thursday Council vote
By
Catalina Gonella
Jersey City housing development deal expected to send money to schools, city government
By
Michael Sol Warren
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 .