New York Rep. Charles Rangel To Remain Chair Of Tax Writing Committee

Washington, D.C. (AHN) - Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY) will remain the nation's top tax-law writer after the House Democratic Caucus voted on Thursday to keep him as chair of the Ways and Means committee.

Rangel, 37-year veteran lawmaker, is being investigate by the House Ethics panel if he inappropriately solicited donations from businesses and four apartments for below-market rates despite the evictions of less influential tenants, and his use of one of these apartments as a campaign office, in violation of city and state regulations.

Rangel, who successfully convinced colleagues in July not to support a Republican resolution to publicly censure him, had asked for the ethics panel to investigate the allegations. While the two controversies caused critics demanded his resignation as Ways and Means chair, he faced new allegations in September that he had failed to include in his tax returns more than $75,000 in income from a villa at the Punta Cana Yacht Club in the Dominican Republic. The fourth longest-serving House Democrat is also accused of inappropriately storing his car, a 1972 Mercedes Benz with an expired license plate, in the Congressional parking garage.

Rangel issued six checks worth $10,800 in total to the Internal Revenue Service and the state of New York to pay back taxes from his Dominican Republic villa. He has also hired a forensic accountant after admitting to discovering more inaccuracies in his tax returns from as far back as decades ago.

He said in an open letter to constituents at the time, "The campaign season has begun, and to no great surprise, I'm now a Republican talking point. But I assure you, I've brought no dishonor to my family, the Congress, my constituents, or my country."