House panel suggests reprimand of Rangel

The House Ethics Committee has a range of punishments it can administer or recommend to the full House. A reprimand is simply a vote by the House to express displeasure with a member’s conduct, and would follow a finding of guilt in a trial.

Representative Gene Green, a Texas Democrat, said the two Democrats and two Republicans on the subcommittee that investigated Rangel for two years were not unanimous in bringing all 13 charges against him, and “the recommendation we had was a reprimand.’’

A separate ethics panel on Thursday set the stage for a trial of Rangel this fall.

The eight Ethics Committee members who will conduct the trial held a meeting Thursday. The message going forward, from the top Republican on the panel, was: Let the trial begin.

“We are now in the trial phase,’’ Representative Michael McCaul of Texas said. But Green said a settlement is still possible.

A 40-year House veteran from Harlem who is now 80 years old, Rangel seemed resigned to a trial hours after the charges were read publicly. “Even though they are serious charges, I’m prepared to prove that the only thing I’ve ever had in my 50 years of public service is service,’’ he said.

— Associated Press

Multnomah County District Attorney Michael Schrunk says there is no basis for prosecution. The announcement followed a four-week investigation that included interviews with Gore, masseuse Molly Hagerty, her acquaintances, and hotel staff.

In revealing their decision, prosecutors cited, “contradictory evidence, conflicting witness statements, credibility issues, lack of forensic evidence, and denials by Mr. Gore.’’

They say tests on a stained pair of pants that Hagerty said she was wearing during the encounter with Gore came back negative. A media and entertainment lawyer representing Hagerty said his client was disappointed, “but understands their decision.’’

— Associated Press

Republican senators Lindsey Graham of South Carolina; Susan Collins and Olympia Snowe of Maine; and Richard Lugar of Indiana have previously announced they will vote next week to confirm Kagan. Senator Ben Nelson of Nebraska yesterday became the first Democrat to say he would vote against Kagan.

President Obama in May nominated Kagan, the US solicitor general, to replace retiring justice John Paul Stevens. The Senate plans a vote next week on Kagan.

“Ms. Kagan and I may have different political philosophies, but I believe that the confirmation process should be based on qualifications, not ideological litmus tests or political affiliation,’’ Gregg said. “I will vote for her confirmation.’’

— Mark Arsenault