| *** The Rangel ethics hearing: Another unwanted news event for the White House and Democrats is today's 1:00 pm ET hearing into the ethics allegations involved Rep. Charlie Rangel (D). "Barring a last-minute settlement agreement over allegations that … Rangel violated House rules, a special ethics panel will meet Thursday to set the stage for a rare ethics trial," writes. "According to sources knowledgeable of the ethics process, the public meeting will serve as an organizational session, including statements from the adjudicatory panel's leadership, chairwoman Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), who is also ethics chairwoman, ranking member Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas), ethics ranking member Jo Bonner (R-Ala.) and Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas)… The panel will also read a 'statement of alleged violations' detailing the accusations against Rangel." If a settlement isn't reached with Rangel, a trial would take place in September. |