House Ethics Trial Opens for NY's Charles Rangel

WASHINGTON — Rep. Charles Rangel of New York headed the House's tax-writing committee.

But he acknowledged shortchanging the Internal Revenue Service on his own tax return.

Now, a House ethics panel will judge whether Rangel's amended tax filing and belated payment and other financial and fundraising practices violated the congressional rule book.

A rare ethics trial begins Monday for the representative from the famed Harlem section of Manhattan.

Rangel, first elected in 1970 and now 80 years old, apparently is without a lawyer.

If Rangel is found to have violated rules, the ethics committee would meet to decide punishment. It could end the case with a critical report, or recommend a House vote expressing displeasure with Rangel's conduct.