The New York Times reports:
Representative Charles B. Rangel held a 20-minute news conference on Friday afternoon after The New York Times reported that he had four rent-stabilized apartments in Harlem at a time when the city is experiencing an affordable housing crisis. At one point angry residents accosted the congressman, the dean of Harlem politics, in an unusual sidewalk confrontation, as Mr. Rangel faced questions from reporters.
Mr. Rangel, who is the powerful chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee, said his living arrangements were fair and legal and that he was paying the maximum rent allowed on all four rent-stabilized units, in the Lenox Terrace complex at West 135th Street and Lenox Avenue. “I didn’t see anything unfair about it,” he said. “I didn’t even know it was a deal.”
He did say, however, that he was evaluating the use of one of the four apartments as a campaign office, saying, “I have to take another look” at that situation. If the use of the apartment as a campaign office is a problem, he said, he would “go to another place and get a different office. Period.”
We wonder if Charlie Rangel is breaking federal campaign finance rules by using a rent controlled apartment as a campaign office? We aren't experts on the subject but it could be well... illegal.and:
The use of multiple apartments that might not normally be available to other tenants could pose legal or ethical problems for Mr. Rangel. The House Ethics Manual [pdf] defined a gift as “a gratuity, favor, discount, entertainment, hospitality, loan, forbearance, or other item having monetary value.” But Mr. Rangel dismissed the notion that his housing arrangements could be construed as a gift.
Charlie Rangel sure is special.
