And Democrat Charlie Rangel is gone – sort of.
Sources say Harlem Democrat Charles Rangel will step down as chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee soon, NBC News has learned.
He may make the move as early as tonight as pressure mounts and sources told NBC that either Michigan Democratic Rep Sander Levin or California Democrat Pete Stark will temporarily take over the committee.
Some details still need to be ironed out, but the sources said Rangel has been pushed to step down before the House voted on a bill to forcefully strip him of the coveted chairmanship.
He’s not giving up his seat, of course. Just the chairmanship of the committee. But making a few guesses about this, I’d about bet that he – and a lot of others – know that there are a lot more – even more damaging – revelations in the pipeline. If it was just the slap on the wrist he got over a couple of trips and nothing more, he would have fought.
There is likely a lot more dirt about to come out about Charlie and his finances.
Also, if true, his reported leave of absence may be a parting shot back at Nancy Pelosi for not protecting him. She needs his vote. If he is on leave, he can’t cast it for her. Interesting, isn’t it?
Care to wager that Rangel has been bag-man for
years for a lot of dems hiding loot in those offshore Caribbean banks and knows where all the skeletons are hidden?