Enough is enough is enough

  

By Christopher Lee

Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, September 11, 2008; Page A15

Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.) acknowledged yesterday that he had not lived up to the "higher standard" expected of members of Congress, but he maintained that he should not be punished politically for failing to disclose and pay taxes on rental income from his Caribbean resort property.

The Ways and Means Committee chairman, who is battling three ethics controversies, said he would file amended tax returns and pay federal, state and local taxes he owes -- an amount that his attorney, Lanny Davis, estimated at more than $10,000 for 2004 to 2006. Rangel's accountants are working to determine his tax liability for the rest of the 20 years that he has owned the three-bedroom villa in the Dominican Republic, Davis said.

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By Christopher Lee

Washington Post Staff Writer
Thursday, September 11, 2008; Page A15

Rep. Charles B. Rangel (D-N.Y.) acknowledged yesterday that he had not lived up to the "higher standard" expected of members of Congress, but he maintained that he should not be punished politically for failing to disclose and pay taxes on rental income from his Caribbean resort property.

The Ways and Means Committee chairman, who is battling three ethics controversies, said he would file amended tax returns and pay federal, state and local taxes he owes -- an amount that his attorney, Lanny Davis, estimated at more than $10,000 for 2004 to 2006. Rangel's accountants are working to determine his tax liability for the rest of the 20 years that he has owned the three-bedroom villa in the Dominican Republic, Davis said.

Rangel, 78, said he regretted his failure to account for the $75,000 in income the property generated, calling the omission "irresponsible." He said he did not know of any income because proceeds from rentals were automatically credited toward his mortgage and because he seldom received financial statements from the resort managers.

"I do hope that my explanation will be sufficient to say that we do make errors, even though we consider ourselves experts in terms of tax policy for the nation," said the Harlem Democrat, whose influential committee helps shape the tax code.

The congressman rejected Republicans' calls for him to step down from his chairmanship while the House ethics committee investigates the villa deal. The ethics panel also is conducting separate inquiries into Rangel's rental of several New York apartments at below-market rates and his fundraising entreaties on congressional stationery to corporations and foundations on behalf of an academic center that bears his name. All the investigations came at Rangel's request after news organizations reported on the issues.

"I really don't believe that making mistakes means that you have to give up your career," Rangel said. Later, he added: "I personally feel that I've done nothing morally wrong."

"Just because he's my friend doesn't mean that I can excuse him from the rules of the House or the law of the land," Boehner said on the House floor. He added: "The sooner we get this cleaned up, the better."

Republicans have used Rangel's ethical troubles to turn the tables on Democrats, who in winning back control of the House in 2006 argued that the GOP-run Congress was plagued by a "culture of corruption."

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi "continues to blatantly ignore her promise to run the 'most ethical congress in history,' " Ken Spain, spokesman for the National Republican Congressional Committee, said in a statement. "The time has come for Charlie Rangel to go on a permanent vacation and trade his powerful committee chair in for his favorite lounge chair on the beach."

Rangel said he paid $88,900 for the beachfront villa in 1988, financing it with a down payment of $28,900 and a loan from the developer to cover the rest. After two years, he said, the developer decided to waive the interest on loans for Rangel and other early investors. Rangel later borrowed an additional $23,000 -- with interest -- to add the third bedroom to the unit. That mortgage also was paid off with rental proceeds, he said.

Rangel said he uses the villa fewer than 10 days a year and occasionally has allowed friends, House staffers and other members of Congress to stay there. He declined to name them.

The 38-year veteran of the House has drawn criticism not just from the GOP, but also from the advocacy group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, which yesterday included him on its annual list of the "most corrupt" members of Congress.

But Rangel, who has routinely won reelection by large margins, said he does not fear for his political future. "I'm a lucky old son of a gun," he said. "Ain't nothing going to stop me from getting back here next year."

BBC news
Page last updated at 18:06 GMT, Friday, 5 September 2008 19:06 UK

Iraq is to ask US officials for an explanation after a new book suggested the United States had been spying on senior members of the Iraqi government.

The claims are made by US journalist Bob Woodward in The War Within: A Secret White House History, 2006-2008.

"If it is true... it reflects that there is no trust," Iraqi government spokesman Ali al-Dabbagh said.

Woodward's book quotes a US source as saying the US knows "everything" said by Iraqi Prime Minister Nouri Maliki.

The War Within, due to be published on Monday, is the fourth book on the Bush administration by Mr Woodward, the Washington Post's associate editor.

It examines the handling of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars and President Bush's leadership and governing style, according to the Post.

Several sources in the book support the claim that Mr Maliki and other Iraqi leaders were being spied on by the US administration.

But Mr Woodward says the tactic was not universally popular in the White House - some senior US officials questioned whether it was worth the risk, given Mr Bush's efforts to develop a close working relationship with Mr Maliki.

Growing rifts

The book also claims that the US "surge" in 2007, in which nearly 30,000 extra troops were sent to Iraq, was not the primary reason for the steep drop in violence seen over the last year.

Mr Woodward says new covert techniques have been used successfully by US military and intelligence officials to find, target and kill insurgents.

He does not go into detail about them, saying the White House asked him to withhold specifics in the interests of national security.

The book quotes from interviews given by Mr Bush himself, and looks at the how the decision-making of the war evolved and the internal clashes it caused.

It reveals a breakdown in the confidence between the president and his military commanders in the region, as well as discord between the state and defence departments.

White House spokeswoman Dana Perino declined to comment on reports of the book's contents.

"We have extensive co-operation with Prime Minister Maliki. Our ambassador sees him almost daily," she said.

"To the extent that they (the Iraqi government) have any concerns, because we have the good relationship that we have with them - which is one that's been very open and frank, and we have contact with them every single day - I'm sure that they'll be talking about it," she added.

Mr Woodward is well-known for his investigative reporting, and first came to prominence for his role in exposing the Watergate scandal which led to President Richard Nixon's resignation in 1974.

Denver News
UPDATED: 1:08 pm MDT September 10, 200DENVER -- Federal investigators say government officials in Denver and Washington, handling billions of dollars in oil royalties, engaged in illicit sex with employees of energy companies, and received improper gifts.The alleged transgressions involve 13 Interior Department employees in Denver and Washington. Alleged improprieties include rigging contracts, working part-time as private oil consultants and having sexual relationships with -- and accepting golf, ski trips and dinners from -- oil company employees, according to three reports released Wednesday by the Interior Department's Inspector General. The investigations reveal a "culture of substance abuse and promiscuity" by a small group of individuals "wholly lacking in acceptance of or adherence to government ethical standards," wrote Inspector General Earl E. Devaney.

By JULIA PRESTON