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| Ex-Rep. Charlie Rangel, fixture on Capitol Hill for nearly half a century, dead at 94 | |
| 2025-05-26 | |
| [NY Post] He'll still vote Former New York City Congressman Charlie Rangel, a fixture on Capitol Hill and Democratic power player for nearly half a century, died Monday. He was 94. Rangel, 94, was a Harlem political institution who spent his life in public service, from the Korean War to becoming the first African American to chair the influential House Ways and Means Committee. His influence can still be felt today, said House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries, who sits atop the Empire State’s political delegation in the House – a role long held by Rangel himself. “The Lion of Lenox Ave was a transformational force of nature,” Jeffries wrote on X. “Harlem, NYC & America are better today because of his service. “May he forever rest in power,” Jeffries said. Rangel was first elected to Congress in 1970 after challenging civil-rights leader Adam Clayton Powell Jr. for his seat. During his tenure, Rangel was part of the Gang of Four, a legendary political coalition from Harlem. The four — Rangel, former Mayor David Dinkins, former Manhattan Borough President Percy Sutton and former state Sen. Basil Paterson — were a powerful political force centered in Upper Manhattan for years. The City College of New York in Harlem — which named its school of public service after Rangel — posted a statement online announcing Rangel’s death on Memorial Day and deeming him a champion for his Big Apple constituents. “He served for 23 terms in the House of Representatives and was cited as the most effective lawmaker in Congress, leading all of his colleagues in passing legislation,” the statement said. In another online tribute, Big Apple businessman and supermarket magnate John Catsimatidis called Rangel “a symbol of Harlem, a fighter for justice, a skilled diplomat. “We knew each other for more than 50 years,” Catsimatidis said. “Charlie was a Harlem youth. You couldn’t walk down a street without someone calling his name.” Still, Rangel’s illustrious career was tarnished by an ethics scandal and accusations first reported by The Post. Rangel had owned a beachfront village in a sunny Dominican Republic resort but failed to report his income from it. The Post’s exposé included an infamous front-page photo of Rangel sleepily basking in the sun on the beach property. A House panel convicted Rangel on ethics charges after a two-year investigation found he repeatedly broke rules, dodged taxes, concealed assets and misused his position to raise money for the City College center that bears his name. Despite Rangel’s pleas for leniency, his House colleagues overwhelmingly voted to censure him – a rare step only taken 28 times in the legislative body’s more than 200-year history. The move involves a public vote of condemnation by the chamber, although those censured keep all of their powers as House members. Rangel eventually retired from Congress in 2017.
[ABC] Former New York Rep. Charles Rangel, a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus who spent more than four decades in the House, has died, according to WABC. He was 94 years old. Rangel, a Democrat, served in the House from 1971 until 2017, spending part of his tenure as the chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee. After leaving Congress, Rangel served as statesman-in-residence at The City College of New York, its website said. "Rangel was a war hero, history-making congressman, and master lawmaker," the college wrote in an obit for Rangel, later adding that he was "recognized as one of the hardest working legislators in Congress." Related: Charlie Rangel 02/26/2016 End of an Charlie Rangel 06/26/2014 Harlem gets the representation it deserves Charlie Rangel 06/24/2014 Longtime congressman Rangel finds himself in political peril in New York primary | |
| Posted by:Frank G |
| #2 When you walk into a restroom, the thing you piss into is also a fixture. |
| Posted by: ed in texas 2025-05-26 17:06 |
| #1 No loss for the world |
| Posted by: DarthVader 2025-05-26 14:13 |