Surprise! Suddenly Wealthy Rangel Also a Tax Cheat

Considering Charlie Rangel just happened to stumble across nearly $800,000 in previously unreported assets, does it surprise anyone the chairman of the House committee that writes tax law also happens to be a tax cheat?

The Tax Man is a deadbeat.

Rep. Charles Rangel, chairman of the tax-writing Ways and Means Committee, has failed to pay taxes on two plots of land he has in New Jersey, records show.

Rangel's ownership of the small, undeveloped properties came to light on Tuesday only after he drastically amended at least six years of financial-disclosure forms he had filed annually with the House clerk as required by law.

The corrected filings as much as doubled the amount of personal wealth Rangel has claimed going back years and revealed at least $780,000 in previously unreported assets.

The Harlem Democrat concealed somewhere between $38,902 and $116,800 in 2007 income, according to the revised filings.

Among the assets he failed to list was a checking account containing somewhere between $250,000 and $500,000.

Also undisclosed for years were two lots he owns in Glassboro, NJ, about 100 miles from the city.

Rangel is delinquent on his taxes on that property, according to the Gloucester County Clerk's office.

He currently owes $159.39 in unpaid property taxes for the second and third quarters of this year, according to the clerk's office.

Rangel's second-quarter taxes were due May 1 and his third-quarter taxes were due at the beginning of this month.

Skating on property taxes is nothing new for Rangel.

A review of property records for the borough of Glassboro revealed at least six tax liens levied against Rangel's property during the past 16 years.

Just last year, two separate liens were levied against both properties owned by Rangel.

Of course if you were the owner of such undisclosed properties you probably would have forfeited them despite the seemingly small amount of taxes owed. You see, you're just an average schmo, not a well-protected member of the political class who just so happens to be a member of the most ethical Congress ever. Since Rangel also has a certain complexion, he also has that ace in the hole ready to use at any time--calling critics racist.

Rangel was allegedly going to explain his sudden windfall but apparently found better things to do yesterday.

Rangel's office did not respond to repeated questions yesterday from The Post about his failure to pay taxes.

Meanwhile, Rangel was scheduled to hold a press conference yesterday just as dozens of stories revealed his ongoing ethical woes in Congress.

Rangel canceled the press conference at the last minute, citing "changes in his schedule," according to one participant.

Of course Rangel can hold his seat for life since he wins overwhelmingly in his solid Democrat district and Queen Pelosi will never show him the door. But if the GOP is smart (always a huge if), Rangel becomes a poster-boy for all things corrupt during next year's election cycle. That is, of course, unless they're afraid of being called racist.

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