Rangel denies wrongdoing in rent flap

NEW YORK, July 12 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., says he's not doing anything wrong by living and working out of rent-controlled apartments in his New York City district.

A report in The New York Times Friday said Rangel is "sitting" on four rent-controlled units in Harlem that aren't his primary residences, which would be a violation of the city's rent-stabilization regulations and could constitute a "gift" from the landlord.

Rangel reacted angrily Friday, saying he's breaking no rules, The New York Daily News reported.

"Paying the legal rent is not a gift," said Rangel, chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, calling the Times report "stupid … If anyone can show any remote possibility that this is a gift, I'll resign tomorrow."

Critics of the deal said Rangel's net worth of between $566,000 and $1.2 million makes the apartments eligible for luxury decontrol, at the landlord's discretion, the Daily News said.

The watchdog group Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington told the newspaper it will file complaints against Rangel with the Federal Election Commission and House Ethics Committee to determine if his Harlem campaign office is an illegal in-kind contribution from the owner, the Olnick Organization.