Put down the coffee.
The Congressional Black Caucus released a statement yesterday defending Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-NY) after his historic censure in the US House of Representatives.
Via the CBC website:
Congresswoman Barbara Lee (D-CA), Chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, released the following statement today on Congressman Charles B. Rangel:
“Today’s vote by the House of Representatives to censure Congressman Rangel was an overly harsh sanction, especially considering that after a 2-year investigation the Committee found no evidence of corruption or personal financial gain. Under House precedents, a reprimand would have been a fairer sanction for the lapses that he has long since admitted and corrected.
“The censure sanction is a departure from the customary sanctions in other cases that have been adjudicated over the years. According to the Committee’s counsel, Congressman Rangel’s misconduct resulted from overzealousness and sloppiness, not corruption.
“Today’s action in no way diminishes Congressman Rangel’s distinguished 50-year history of service to his country and constituents who again overwhelmingly returned him to office in November. Members of the Congressional Black Caucus are proud to call Congressman Rangel our colleague and friend.”
