If you have solid tips, news or documents on potential ethical violations or abuses of power, we want to know. Send us your suggestions. 
Unfortunately I believe that we are limited in what we can focus on. I think that if we proceed with the partisan sideshow of prosecuting Bush admin. officials, healthcare will get lost in the brouhaha.
The Washington Post's permanent investigative unit was set up in 1982 under Bob Woodward.
Rangel Attacks Times; Times Fires Back
New York Rep. Charles B. Rangel has taken on The New York Times, attacking the paper's coverage of Rangel's finances, taxes and questionable ethics.
This time, The New York Times fired right back.
The House Ways and Means Committee chairman sent The Times a scathing letter after its Nov. 25 article, "The Congressman, the Donor and the Tax Break," examined Rangel's connection to oil firm Nabors Industries. The oil company's chief executive, Eugene M. Isenberg, promised $1 million to Rangel's pet project, a public policy school at the City College of New York that bears his name. Meanwhile, Rangel proved to be "instrumental" last year in preserving a tax loophole in the Caribbean for the drilling company, the Times reported.
The Democratic congressman called the article and others by Times reporter David Kocieniewski "inflammatory" and charged that the paper's story on Nabors Industries reflected "willful blindness to the history of that legislation and a fundamental ignorance of the legislative process that produced it."
In turn, Kocieniewski penned a point-by-point response to Rangel's claims, noting that lobbyists and congressional staff members made clear that Rangel's objections led to the tax loophole being saved.
The letter is part of Rangel's "concerted counterattack" against The Times, Politico's John Bresnahan reports.
"Rangel has vehemently denied any link between Isenberg's donation and his committee's action -- or even that he was aware of Isenberg's contribution, -- and aides to Rangel have raised questions about the accuracy of the Times story," he wrote.
The Times' response, while dispassionate and straightforward, raised eyebrows.
"But the Times, like the wily little know-it-alls they are, posted the letter online alongside a point-by-point takedown of his arguments," New York Magazine penned in its "Daily Intel" blog. "You really have to read it to believe it -- now the paper has moved beyond implying that Rangel has done wrong and is currently calling him a liar and a fantasist."
By Derek Kravitz |
December 4, 2008; 5:45 PM ET
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Next: Rangel's Tangled Web, Feds Get Blagojevich on Tape, Iraq Contractors Detained
Posted by: edbyronadams | December 4, 2008 6:27 PM
Other than to obtain perks, benefits, loopholes, for their large donors, what exactly do congresspeople do?
Posted by: rancho3chico | December 4, 2008 7:23 PM
I always thought highly of Charlie Rangel being a war hero and someone who worked his way up but this is alarming along with his tax evasion charges what is it about politicians who serve for life. Charlie the evidence against you is overwhelming maybe its time to step down and ride off into the sunset. After all this you can no longer be an effective legislator because no one will trust you and you have no one to blame but yourself. Unfortunately you are not alone in this regard you only have been vetted.Unfortunately there are too other politicians in Washington who act in there own interests rather than in the interests of their country and their constituency.
Posted by: hotdogme | December 4, 2008 8:29 PM
Eight years of corruption at the higest level,now the post speakes out. weeinies at best,investigation is now the word.Wow I'am inpressed.What happen to the country in the last eight years and no INVEGTIGATION. Illegal war, torture,rape of the contitution. This is for the weenies.
Posted by: sunnyday1 | December 4, 2008 9:22 PM
If you cringe at the coming fire from all this smoke gettin laid down you are not insane, you are right...but in the land of the blind those with sight are hated & despised.
8 years of the most absolute & unimaginable lies & corruption...and on the way out the door the appointees of Alberto Gonzales are desperately running political operations, masked as legitamate investigations. No regard for finances. Billions if not Trillions of dollars scattered to the winds by the Bush gang and what service do these GOP hacks serve the USA.....why FOX news justice. The Bible has a little story about a guy named Jesus, who the greedy/ignorant crowd sentenced to death, rather than hang their good old boy buddy mr. Barabas.
Odd, how these types act the same way today, using the good word as a hollow symbol, ignoring any kind of wisdom.
At least the GOP crusaders read the part about everyone ( including Democrats) having sins..... what better way for Bushies to squander the law enforcemnent resources of the USA.
Taking no responsiblity for the 9/11s or collapses of the economic system when their false prophets take the money & run.
The cooked books in Washington have yet to be examined.
Now Americans get to witness Republicans blaming anyone, but the people they turned loose for the last 8 yrs.
So eat & be merry...and pay the people YOU just bailed out 20% + interest rates for your X-mas gifts.
Lawdamussy.
Posted by: mikepiedmont | December 5, 2008 12:02 PM
ALL the CORRUPT DINASAURS need to GO!
Rangel is a corrupt dinasaur. If he had any shame, class, or responsibility left in him, he would resign.
Note that he isn't resigning...
Posted by: onestring | December 9, 2008 4:01 PM
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"You really have to read it to believe it -- now the paper has moved beyond implying that Rangel has done wrong and is currently calling him a liar and a fantasist."
It does bring to mind the adage about the broken clock.