Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Rangel Tells Harlem Crowd, "I Did Not Go To Bed With Kids"
By
Jen Chung
Published Dec 5, 2010
Modified Dec 5, 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 5, 2010
Modified Dec 5, 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 longtime Harlem Democrat, returned to his district and was defiant about being censured by his House colleagues over ethics violations. At an emergency town hall meeting about Harlem Hospital's fate, where people gave him a standing ovation, he said, "I was not found guilty of corruption, I did not go to bed with kids, I did not hurt the house speaker, I did not start a revolution against the United States of America, I did not steal any money, I did not take any bribes and that is abundantly clear."
Well, he technically didn't steal money or accept bribes, but, as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee he did preserve a tax loophole that saved an oil company hundreds of millions (the company's executive promised $1 million to the CUNY school being named after Rangel) and he did accept three extra apartments at rent-stabilized rates. And he did do a lousy job not reporting extra income to the IRS. But whatever, Rangel admitted he was "sloppy" and claimed "there was no deception involved."
The 80-year-old also said, "This weekend will be the last time that I intend to refer to this matter in any way," referring to the embarrassing censure, which is the second most severe form of punishment the House can give (expulsion is the most severe). He also told NY1, "I want to make certain that I, my family, and those that are here would be able to say, Charlie Rangel made a difference. Whether its censure or reprimand or admonishment, history is going to dictate whether the mistakes really warranted a censure.”
Tagged
censure
charles rangel
corruption
ethics violations
harlem
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
Forest Hills Stadium can keep its concerts under deal with neighbors
Neighbors had complained of traffic and loud concerts for years.
By
Ryan Kost
Published Oct 22, 2026 at 2:49 p.m. ET
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
News
NYC Council to grill Mamdani officials on collapsed Hunts Point Produce Market deal
Council Speaker Julie Menin called the $650 million plan "mission critical."
By
Elizabeth Kim
NYPD arrests 17-year-old in fatal Midtown subway platform shooting
By
Charles Lane
Ex-Adams aide accused of pocketing kickbacks from community program funds
By
Samantha Max
MTA to begin 6-year project to upgrade signal tech on A and C lines in Brooklyn and Queens
By
Ramsey Khalifeh
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 .