WASHINGTON, Sept. 1 (UPI) -- Good-government watchdog groups are calling for a special counsel to intervene in the U.S. House Ethics Committee probe of Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y.
Rangel is under investigation for a series of charges, including failure to report $75,000 worth of rental income on a villa he owns in the Dominican Republic. The ethics committee investigation has been expanded several times to accommodate new charges against the Ways and Means Committee chairman, the Hill Reported.
Rangel last week also disclosed he had failed to list at least $650,000 in assets on his House financial disclosure forms, the Washington publication said.
"Appointing a special counsel is a step the committee could and should take," said Lisa Gilbert, democracy advocate for U.S. Public Interest Research Group. "There really couldn't be a situation where there is a more overt case for doing so than with Rangel."
Rangel sought the ethics panel investigation in July 2008. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi of California said last November she expected the probe to be completed in January 2009.
Other ethics analysts said they were concerned that naming a new counsel would only delay an outcome already overdue.
"We're not calling for a special counsel," said Democracy 21's Fred Wertheimer. "That could involve starting all over again and greatly extend the time frame of this case."
