The House of Representatives was first created in 1787, though its origins go back much farther than that.  In the august body’s 223-year history, only 22 members of the House have been censured for ethical violations.  Representative Charles Rangel has become the 23rd member of the house to be censured, thanks to a long history of ethics violations, abuse of power, and tax evasion.  Apparently, when you’re in Congress, you can avoid paying taxes on your Caribbean vacation villa for 17 years and get away with a public condemnation and no jail time.  Rangel represents Harlem, New York, and has been in the House since 1971.

Rangel is the first member of the House to be censured since 1983, when Republican Daniel B. Crane and Democrat Gerry Studds were censured for sexual misconduct with House pages.  Censure is the second-highest level of punishment given by the House; the only more forceful punishment is expulsion.  Censure is a step above a reprimand.

Tags: ethics violations, House of Representatives, Charles Rangel, House of Representatives censures Charles Rangel, Charles Rangel censured, Harlem, New York, Rangel censured for ethics violations, Rangel 23rd person to be censured by the House, tax evasion, Rangel censured for ethics

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