Democratic Party insiders predict that many top New York Democrats will abandon embattled Rep. Charles Rangel if the veteran lawmaker doesn’t admit to several ethics violations before the charges against him are outlined on Thursday.
“Democrats will start heading for the hills — distancing themselves from Charlie once those charges are out — so if he wants to keep a modicum of support, he better reach a deal with the House over the next few days,” one of the state’s most senior Democrats predicted.
State Democrats, already nervous about a series of ethical and legal scandals involving Senate Majority Leader Pedro Espada of The Bronx, now-ousted Sen. Hiram Monserrate of Queens, and several other legislators and City Council members, were described by one senior elected official as “biting their nails over the Rangel situation.
“How would you feel right now if you’re one of our [five primary] candidates for attorney general, claiming you’re going to be fighting state corruption, [and] you’re asked how you stand on Rangel once the charges are outlined?” the official wondered.
“If the House Ethics Committee accusations are that Charlie cheated on his taxes, did favors for contributors, and gamed the rent-control laws, as we all expect, are you, a candidate for attorney general, going to back him up? I don’t think so,” the official continued.
Similarly, national Democrats are keeping arm’s length from Rangel.
Speaking on “Fox News Sunday,” former DNC Chairman Howard Dean said Rangel is owed a “fair process,” but applauded Democrats in Congress for pursuing charges against their longtime colleague.
“He did some things that look like they ought to get him thrown out of Congress, and if it turns out that he did them, he’s going to get thrown out of Congress,” Dean said.
Rangel was upbeat yesterday and again likened the ethics allegations leveled against him to a “boil” that will be lanced on Thursday when the specific charges are formally and publicly laid out.
“I’m not in a foxhole, I’m not surrounded by a million Chinese communists coming after me,” Rangel, a Korean War veteran, said. “Life is good. I’m 80 years old. I’m on my way to a parade.”
One Democrat standing behind him is former Mayor David Dinkins, who stopped by to visit Rangel at his home yesterday.
“I absolutely support him,” Dinkins said upon leaving. “He’s going to run, and he is going to win big.”