NY,NY , Taxpayers Hot Line - Representative Charles Wrangle's (sic) 30 year run in the House of Representatives continues to play well at the Box Office, as once again his peers voted to keep him in his position of House Ways and Means Chairman despite mounting evidence of corruption.
The list of Wrangle's discrepancies, omissions, conflict of interests, and lying continue to pile up while his colleagues refuse to address the issues concerning the position of this powerful Democratic lawmaker.
As the case continues to unravel, new revelations are being made almost daily.
Some of the top issues of interest are:
*Wrangle took a real estate homestead exemption for his DC home, while his voting residence was in NY City, resulting in a significant tax break.
*During his 30 years in office, over 28 significant assets flowed into and out of his possession with no accountability for profits, loss, or capital gains.
*Nobody knows what happened to the advance or royalties he received for his 2007 book, as there are no financial records that he received any.
*He never paid taxes on rental income from an ocean side retreat, allegedly financed by a supporter, in the Dominican Republic. No written mortgage instrument exists, although Wrangle claims he paid the donor back.
Wrangle also claims the lack of income reporting is attributed to the fact that correspondence from the Rental Company was in Spanish, and he couldn't understand what they sent him. (Ed. Note: Charlie, your district also encompasses what they call "Spanish Harlem", your janitor could have translated for you.)
*Somehow Wrangle renovated 4 rent controlled apartments he owns in Harlem into one (1) 2500 square foot home he occupies, and somehow added a studio apartment, which he rents to himself to conduct business. No one knows how much he is paying himself for the privilege, or if he has violated NY Rent Control Laws.
*For years Wrangle parked a '70's vintage, non running Mercedes in the Government Parking space in DC, in violation of government rules. No one knows if he paid fines or back storage for the vehicle or if he took business mileage deductions on the non running vehicle for government business.
The most damning circumstances surround 3 known tax exempt foundations involving the Congressman.
The Charles B. Rangle Center of Public Service received $2.7M in government funds.
The NY Caribbean News Foundation fronted all of Charley's exotic flights around the many islands on which he vacationed .
The Ann S. Kheel Foundation for "disadvantaged neighborhoods" made the largest donation in its 4 year history to Wrangle, $440,000.
On February 11, 2009, his peers in the House of Representatives refused to vote to have him step aside while an ongoing "ethics investigation" continues into Wrangle's convoluted affairs.
As one noted political wag commented rhetorically, "why would one man want to keep a job that only paid $164,000 a year and put up with all this?"
Folks, we only report this stuff, as they say on the news..."You Decide!"
