Looks Like Charlie Rangel Cut a Deal

Lawyers for House ethics investigators and for Rep. Charles Rangel (D., N.Y.) reached a tentative settlement Thursday that could end the two-year ethics probe into the once-powerful New York lawmaker.

The settlement proposal is preliminary and could still be rejected by the 10-member ethics committee, which must approve or reject the agreement by a majority vote. That vote could take place Thursday afternoon.

With no settlement final, the House ethics committee began a public hearing this afternoon that starts the process of adjudicating the charges against Mr. Rangel. The panel charged the veteran Harlem lawmaker with 13 counts of violating ethics rules.

"Credibility is what's at stake here," said Rep. Michael McCaul (R., Texas), the senior Republican on the committee, who added that the public dislikes and distrusts Congress. "We must regain the people's trust," he said.

Mr. Rangel did not attend the session, but several of his lawyers did.

Rep. Jo Bonner (R., Ala.) said the Harlem Democrat "may have broken the rules of the House and brought discredit to this body at a time when the American people have such little faith in our ability....It is the duty of the House to punish its members for disorderly behavior."

Republicans are still in a position to block a settlement deal and force Mr. Rangel into the congressional equivalent of a trial, which would take place in the weeks before congressional elections this fall. Many Democrats fear the proceedings would damage them politically just before voters go to the polls.

It is not known whether the Republicans on the ethics committee think the plea deal includes a tough enough penalty for Mr. Rangel. At least one of the five Republicans on the panel must vote with all five Democrats to approve any settlement.