Black Activist Calls For Rangel's Ouster From Congressional Leadership

As yet another potential tax-related ethical lapse involving Congressman Charles Rangel (D-New York) surfaces, a member of Project 21 is calling for the veteran lawmaker to be removed as chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee until the allegations undergo a full investigation.

Bishop Council Nedd II, a member of the black conservative group's national advisory council, said: "It's galling that the head of the committee in charge of levying taxes has either a profound ignorance of tax law or a disinterest in adhering to the laws he wants others to follow."

According to a report in The New York Post based on information uncovered by the National Legal and Policy Center, between at least 1995 and 2000, Rep. Rangel received a "homestead" tax break on a house he owned in D.C. that saved him $1,728. Under D.C. law, the exemption applies only to primary residences. The rules governing Rep. Rangel's rent-stabilized apartments in his New York City congressional district, however, also require it to be a primary residence.

Rep. Rangel sold the D.C. house, which he purchased in 1971, in October 2000. D.C. officials did not provide tax records prior to 1995. Rep. Rangel obtained the rent-controlled New York City apartments in 1988.