Rangel Lied, 'Most Ethical Congress Ever' Died

The hits just keep coming for New York's corrupt Congressman Charlie Rangel. He's probably privately giving thanks this is the week Ted Kennedy died since most of these reports of his sudden windfall seem to be flying under the national radar.

Rep. Charles Rangel claimed on mortgage papers that a Harlem brownstone was his principal residence -- even though he was living elsewhere at the time, The Post has learned.

When the Democrat -- who is under investigation by the House Ethics Committee -- took out the mortgage in 1990, he said the property on West 132nd Street was his "principal residence," records show.

But Rangel has been living since the 1970s in Harlem's Lenox Terrace apartment complex, where he improperly amassed four rent-stabilized properties.

State law requires that rent-regulated apartments be the tenant's residence.

"I will reside in the Property (on 132nd Street) for at least six (6) months of every calendar year," read Rangel's mortgage contract with Citibank, which is on file with the city.

The terms of the $60,000 loan appear to be normal for that time, but lenders say claiming principal residency when you live elsewhere is a serious breach.

"It's fraud or a mistake," said David Reed, an author of several popular books about mortgage lending.

I lean toward the former considering we're dealing with one of the greatest frauds to ever sit in Congress.

Despite overwhelming evidence this guy has skirted numerous laws, he still keeps his sense of humor.

Meanwhile, Rangel again refused to answer any questions yesterday.

"My only concern is just to see how is the press going to handle the mistakes that clearly they've made after the investigations have been completed and the Ethics Committee has worked its will," he said.

It's not as if the Post is the only local paper covering his shenanigans. Things are so bad even the NY Times isn't giving him a pass.

Mr. Rangel declined to discuss the latest revelations about his finances, which were reported on Friday by The New York Post.

Republicans said Friday that Mr. Rangel’s lapses in fully disclosing his finances were part of a long list of transgressions and renewed a demand that he be replaced as chairman of the Ways and Means Committee, which writes the tax code and is involved in shaping major policy, from the financial bailout to the health care plan.

“The ball is in Speaker Pelosi’s court,” said Bill Steel, a spokesman for the House minority leader, John A. Boehner of Ohio. Referring to House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California, he added, “How much longer will she allow Representative Rangel to keep such a powerful and influential position, given the staggering array of ethical allegations he faces?”

Republicans also pressed Mr. Rangel to prove that he paid taxes on the previously unreported rental income. Last year, Mr. Rangel acknowledged that he owed more than $10,000 in back taxes because he had failed to report more than $70,000 in rental income from a villa in the Dominican Republic. “Obviously we need a full accounting of assets, the income on them and the tax implications,” Mr. Steel said.

Obviously we need the Obama Justice Department to investigate this fraud, but they're too busy investigating the people who keep us safe.

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