Charlie Rangel Walks Out of his Ethics Trial: The Privilege of Being a Congressman

It must be nice to be a Congressman and be above the law. Charlie Rangel, who is being investigated on House ethics violations, just walked out of his own trial a few minutes ago with no respect for the law.

After claiming he would represent himself, Rangel suddenly wanted to have an attorney present. He walked about because they wouldn't extend the hearing and offer him time to get an attorney. The games these guys play...

Complaining bitterly that he was denied the right to have an attorney present, an emotional Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) walked out of his highly publicized public ethics trial Monday morning, an unexpected twist in the ethics inquiry has tarnished Rangel’s four-decade congressional career.

The ethics panel, after an unexpected 40-minute private session, rejected Rangel’s request to delay the trial and went ahead anyway. The witness chair where Rangel was supposed to sit was empty, a dramatic sign of Rangel’s refusal to participate.

With Rangel gone – foregoing the 10 hours he was granted to defend himself – the committee moved very quickly through the case and spent just 80 minutes reviewing the allegations before retiring to decide whether it would approve a “motion for summary judgment.”

If that motion is approved the Rangel trial is esentially over, just several hours after beginning.