Panel denies Rangel’s plea for delay in trial

Posted: Monday, November 15, 2010 9:07 pm
By: AP

WASHINGTON (AP) — A House panel has denied Rep. Charles Rangel’s plea for a delay in his ethics trial until he can get a lawyer.
A panel of four Democrats and four Republicans declined his request this morning and the proceeding — rare in the annals of the House — went forward without the 20-term congressman’s presence.
Several members of the committee angrily criticized Rangel’s lawyers for leaving the case just weeks before the hearing.
Vermont Democratic Rep. Peter Welch said that no law firm should be “taking the money … and kicking their client by the side of the road.” The committee’s chief counsel, Blake Chisam, then read aloud the 13 charges of alleged financial and fundraising wrongdoing that have been brought against the 80-year-old Democrat from New York’s Harlem district.

Published in The Messenger 11.15.10