Political Ethics

John Sampson, State Senator, Indicted; Brooklyn Relieved He Wasn't Elected DA

Well, we guess the voters were right to re-elect Charles Hynes back in 2005, when he was pushed fairly hard in the democratic primary by challenger, state Sen. John Sampson. (Hynes won by about four percentage points.) Sampson, a 15-year veteran of the Legislature and chair of the senate ethics com ... More >>

NY GOP Wants Investigation Into Rep. Steve Israel's Sketchy Mortgage "Bailout"

The New York Post ran an "exclusive" story yesterday suggesting that Long Island Congressman Steve Israel's 2008 support of the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) for financially strapped banks is the reason he was granted a "bailout" on the mortgage for his Dix Hills home. The bank that holds Isr ... More >>

Tack Another $2,400 Onto Vito Lopez's (Taxpayer-Funded) Pervy-ness Tab

The taxpayer-funded tab to sweep allegations of sexual harassment by disgraced Brooklyn Assemblyman Vito Lopez under the rug is even bigger than originally anticipated, according to records released yesterday.In addition to the $103,000 Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver -- et al -- agreed to pay Lopez ... More >>

Sign (Toothless) Petition Calling For Shelly Silver's Resignation Right Here

Powerful Democratic Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver continues to catch heat for his coverup of sexual harassment allegations against his former pal, disgraced Assemblyman Vito Lopez, and now New York Republicans are circulating a petition calling for his resignation.Granted, it's only a petition -- ... More >>

Gloria Alred, NOW Have Shelly Silver In Sights Over Hush Money For Pervy Pal Vito Lopez

Isn't there an old saying about how it's seldom the crime but "always the coverup" that lands politicians in the hottest of water?Well, Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver may want to revisit that adage, because it's his "coverup" of sexual harassment allegations against his old pal/current Assemblyman ... More >>

Anthony Weiner to Resign, Reports New York Times

According to a breaking news alert from the New York Times, disgraced Rep. Anthony Weiner is set to resign over his sexting scandal. ​The Times reports that Weiner "came to the conclusion that he could no longer serve after having long discussions with his wife, Huma Abedin," who had returned ... More >>

Charlie Rangel Taking Donations to Backpay His Ethics Lawyers

​If you feel bad for poor, censured Harlem Rep. Charles Rangel, good news: he's taking donations again -- this time to pay the lawyers who failed him in his ethics trial. The House ethics committee (the same one that convicted him) just approved the creation of a fund to help pay his legal defense ... More >>

Charlie Rangel's Ethics Censure: Record-Breaking, Utterly Meaningless.

​Various news outlets are reporting that House of Representatives members have voted to censure an active member "for the first time in nearly 30 years" -- New York City's own Rep. Charles Rangel -- for the slew of ethics violations he was convicted of last month. The House, which voted 333-79 ... More >>

Mark Green On Charlie Rangel: Reprimand, Not Censure

​The House vote on Charlie Rangel could come today now that the ethics panel has released its final report. Rangel is still pushing hard to get his censure resolution knocked down to a milder reprimand. It's a long shot despite support yesterday from House Dem James Clyburn of South Carolina w ... More >>

Sidebar: Fantasy Voter Fraud

Charlie Rangel's Sins Don't Rate Too High on the House Scam Meter

​ Charlie Rangel's pending date with a censure vote before the full House of Representatives has prompted a lot of historical digging into great congressional scalawags of the past. By any reasonable standard, Rangel -- no matter what you think of him -- appears to come up pretty short. Remar ... More >>

Charles Rangel to Insist He's Not That Bad

​I am not a crook, Rep. Charles Rangel of Harlem hopes to tell the House of Representatives in "a last stand to salvage his reputation." Rangel plans to ask the ethics committee for time on the floor in order to explain that his 11 counts of financial and fundraising "misdeeds" are not as bad ... More >>

Charlie Rangel D-Day: "Keep the Faith, Baby!"

​Charlie Rangel gets to hear his fate today from the congressional ethics panel and his many fans are weighing in on his behalf. After meeting with the state's congressional delegation, Governor Paterson last night (make that late last night -- 10:29 PM) released a statement praising Harlem's ... More >>

Censure for Charlie Rangel, House Ethics Committee Says (Liveblog)

​Congressman Charlie Rangel of New York's 15th congressional district, who was recently re-elected, was found guilty of 11 ethics violations on Tuesday. The House Ethics Committee is currently holding a hearing by which they'll hand down his punishment. There have been some pretty harsh words ... More >>

Charles Rangel Convicted On Ethics Violations

​Several news outlets, including the Wall Street Journal, are reporting that House Ethics Committee has found veteran congressman Charles Rangel guilty of 11 ethics violations after less than 24 hours of deliberation. The 80-year-old Rangel, who served as chairman of  the House's Ways and Mea ... More >>

Joe Bruno, Other Pols Use Campaign Funds to Pay Legal Expenses

Joe BrunoBy Adam Schwartzman Five prominent New York politicians have dipped into their campaign funds to pay for nearly $3 million in legal expenses associated with investigations of their possible misconduct, a Voice examination of campaign disclosure reports has revealed. While it's unclear if t ... More >>

Poll of New Yorkers to Charlie Rangel: Drop Dead, You Suck Like the Rest of Them

​If a just-released poll is to be believed, New Yorkers have finally told 80 year-old congressman Charles Rangal -- currently under heavy scrutiny and investigation for a series of ethics charges -- to go away and not try to fight for his political career. These numbers are thick.

Charlie Rangel's Back Pages: 'If I Can Be a Congressman, Anybody Can Be a Congressman.'

​As we wait to learn the fate of Charlie Rangel, that old Harlem lion who may be hit with a telephone-sized House ethics complaint any minute now unless he cuts a deal to cop a plea, it's a good time for a short trot down memory lane. Here are a few takes from the Voice's (very spotty) digital ... More >>

Bruno Trial Recalls Ethics Bill Albany Shot Down in September

Legislators have been quick to condemn wrongdoing in the run-up to the trial of former State Senate Majority Leader Joseph Bruno, who was indicted on corruption charges in January. But let's not forget that earlier this fall, Senate Republicans unanimously shot down a bill that would have gone a lon ... More >>

Vast White-Wing Conspiracy? 15% of Black House Members Under Investigation

David Paterson took a lot of heat for saying racism was behind his poor press and dismal poll numbers. When he tried to rope President Obama into the act, the White House distanced itself from the governor more strenuously than they did even from Bill Thompson. We wondered some time ago if maybe hi ... More >>

Twisted Spitzer

Note to good-guy governor-elect: 10 reasons to stay Hevesi’s execution

A Hevesi Heresy

Daring to doubt the governor's wisdom

Reform School Dropouts

Congress vows changes but makes only a few after Abramoff scandal

The War on Murtha

Congressman's theatrics about Iraq spark a new fracas out in the lobby

What's the Deal With the Tom DeLay Indictment?

Getting a grip on the Hammer and that criminal conspiracy charge

Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy Rides Again

Hillary Haters Go Wild Over Campaign-Finance Acquittal

Vast Right-Wing Conspiracy Rides Again

Hillary haters go wild over campaign finance case

Gay Marriage Shocker! Guess Who was Probed?

Lights Out in Florida

Katherine Harris Messes With Pamphlets This Time, Not Chads

Pataki's Sick Department of Health

How a Collusive Contagion Has Infected a $34 Billion Bureaucracy

The Kid From Great Neck

Grown-Up Green Is Poised to Run ‘the City’

A Dull Knife Poised

Docs Find Ill in Chinese Organ Trade, and in Bill to Stop It

Howard Safir Must Resign

Nation

Un-Covering Livingston

House of Hypocrites

While congress is set to sit in judgment of President Clinton, many of its members have their own indiscretions to deal with. Lucky for them Ken Starr isn't investigating them and the notoriously lax ethics committee is.

Ex'ed Files

The Ferraro Archives That Are Open to No One