Oops, my bad.
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"My chairmanship is bringing so much attention to the press," said Rangel, 79. " . . . In order to avoid my colleagues having to defend me during their elections, I have this morning sent a letter" asking House Speaker Nancy Pelosi "to grant me a leave of absence until such time as the ethics committee completes its work."
The ethics committee reprimanded Rangel after concluding that his staff was aware that corporations, such as American Airlines, financed his 2007 and 2008 trips to Caribbean resorts for conferences. That broke new House rules forbidding such privately financed travel. While the committee could not conclude that Rangel knew of the backing, the panel found him culpable for his staff's knowledge.
I am not a Rangel fan. By any stretch.