Sorry Charlie just can't catch a break. Rep. Charlie Rangel has been named one of the "most corrupt" members of congress for the second year in a row.
The dubious distinction was handed down by CREW, or Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, in their fifth annual report, which includes 15 members of congress.
The liberal group took Harlem's Democratic congressman to task for a range of ethical issues: "(1) improperly leasing four rent controlled apartments; (2) improperly using congressional stationary; (3) failing to report rental income from a vacation property; and (4) trading legislative assistance for contributions to the Rangel Center at City College." You can read full their full report here.
Rangel has been ignoring mounting calls for him to step down from his powerful position as chairman of the House Ways and Means Commission while the various investigations into his allegedly shady dealings take place.
Other pols on the list are Rep. Vern Buchanan (R-FL), Sen. Roland Burris (D-IL), Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA), Rep. Nathan Deal (R-GA), Sen. John Ensign (R-NV) Rep. Jesse Jackson, Jr. (D-IL), Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA), Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY), Rep. Alan B. Mollohan (D-WV), Rep. John P. Murtha (D-PA), Rep. Laura Richardson (D-CA), Rep. Pete Visclosky (D-IN), Rep. Maxine Waters (D-CA) and Rep. Don Young (R-AK).
CREW notes that there are less names on this years list than last, which had 24, but that is partly due to the fact that eight are no longer in Congress, and seven others were left off because no action was taken by any law enforcement agency or ethics committees.
The group notes that of the 48 lawmakers they've targeted over the past five years, 27 are now out of office.
