Congressman Charles Rangel is under fire once again

More Errors For Rep. Rangel; Hires New Account

Though Many Think Harlem Congressman's High-Powered Job Is Safe, House Speaker Pelosi Has Final Say

Reporting
Pablo Guzman

NEW YORK (CBS) ― Congressman Charles Rangel is under fire once again over questions about his personal finances. 

On Monday, the chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee was scheduled to meet privately with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, trying to deal with the ethics questions that just won't go away. 

It has gotten to this for Rangel. Although he is one of the most powerful men in Washington, here in his own district -- to avoid yet another round of embarrassing questions from reporters -- Rangel had to be brought in through a back door, surrounded by children, no less. He did acknowledge that he was going to be asked about Speaker Pelosi, but said he did not want to take away from what was supposed to be the children's day. 

"The feeling was it had to do with Speaker Pelosi, but I don't want to detract from this at all," Rangel said. 

The "Speaker Pelosi" reference is because the lead editorial in Monday's New York Times calls for Pelosi to ask Rangel to temporarily step aside as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, or else be removed permanently. 

It's because Rangel, the head of the committee that writes the tax code and oversees the budget, now admits his own tax records are in such disarray, he's had to bring in a forensic accountant to find out just what he owes on items like unreported income on the building he and his wife once owned, or the possible ethical lapses in perhaps getting a favor to combine three condos into one, below-market apartment. Or explaining just how another Dominican condo was financed. 

In fact, Rangel left in a rush Monday to meet with Pelosi in Washington. His future is in the balance, but even people in his district critical of what they call his sloppy record-keeping do not want him removed as the tax committee chair. 

"Well, I think it's a little premature. I think they need to finish the investigation first," said Dave Hill of Harlem. 

Fellow Harlem resident Mir Lande said most of the people in this community will stand by Rep. Rangel. 

"I think that people make mistakes, and politicians make mistakes like everyone else," Lande said. 

So it seems that while calls mount for Rep. Rangel to step aside as Ways and Means chairman, many of his constituents are closing ranks behind him -- in support. 

While republicans are demanding Pelosi remove Rangel, the Democrats are caught between getting rid of a problem that could come up in debates versus not wanting to alienate black voters who may think removing Rangel would be overkill.

(© MMVIII, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)