The Washington Circus

To the Editor:

It is time for justice and once again Washington has failed us. We the people are tired of the double standard. It is time for those who break the law, abuse the rules, and use their public office for personal gain to be held accountable. Charlie Rangel was convicted on 11 counts of violating House rules. Rangel misused his office for fundraising for a college center named after him. He used a rent controlled apartment for a campaign office, preventing a more deserving, less fortunate family from occupying it. Rangel failed to pay taxes for 17 years on rental income from a Dominican Republic villa.

The ethics committee stated, “Although prior committee precedent for recommendation of censure involved many cases of direct financial gain, this committee’s recommendation is based on the cumulative nature of violations and not any direct personal financial gain.” Can someone explain to me how failing to pay taxes for 17 years did not result in personal financial gain?

Charlie Rangel should have been forced out of Congress to face the criminal offenses he has committed. Not paying taxes is a criminal offense. Rangel asked for “a drop of fairness and mercy.” We need to replace “fairness and mercy” with “accountability and justice.” Here was another chance for Washington to begin to “Drain the Swamp” and once again they failed. Are we all living by the same rules in this country? Where is “Equal justice under the Law?” Rangel has violated the public trust and we the people, once again, are done an injustice. His ego and self-serving interests have long blinded him from the truth.  He has been in office for too long. Charlie Rangel is a disgrace to this country. The circus in Washington continues. When Rangel stands before the House to be censured, don’t be surprised if they throw their shoes at him. It is time; time for term limits.

Richard Narel

18 Philo Curtis Road, Sandy Hook                      November 23, 2010