Rangel under review

Charles B. Rangel is under review for ethical character after violating congressional gift rules by accepting trips to the Caribbean and back in 2007 and 2008.

According to The New York Times, Republicans planned a force vote on Wednesday to remove Rangel from his position as chairman of the tax policy-writing Ways and Means Committee under the New York Congressional delegation.

The New York Post reported that Rangel is under investigation by the ethics committee for the prohibition. The committee will also address other accusations, such as whether he failed to pay taxes on his villa and about the fundraising conducted for a CUNY center named after him.

The U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Standards of Official Conduct states: "Each staff member must comply with the annual gift limitation of less than $100 from any source in a calendar year." While the gift rule sets out the categories of gifts that a person may accept if offered, members and staff are generally prohibited from soliciting gifts.

According to The New York Post, Rangel stated, "the ethics committee authorized the trip and there's no way in the world there could be any report out [there that says] I was not authorized by the Ethics Committee to travel."

The Times also reported that Rangel refuses to step down even though Democrat officials are urging him to do so.