House blocks GOP attempt to remove Rangel

WASHINGTON, Oct. 7 (UPI) -- The U.S. House scuttled a Republican attempt Wednesday to remove Rep. Charles Rangel, D-N.Y., from his chairmanship.

In a 243-156 vote, mostly along party lines, with 19 members voting "present," Democrats referred the matter to the House Ethics Committee, effectively sinking the Republican effort to remove Rangel from the tax-writing panel, The Hill reported.

Republican Conference Secretary John Carter of Texas introduced a resolution that would have forced Rangel to relinquish his chairmanship until the ethics panel wraps up its investigation into multiple allegations against him.

Carter said the lack of action by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. or the Democratic Caucus forced the GOP to call on Rangel to give up his chairmanship.

The ethics committee began its investigation after allegations surfaced last year that he failed to report $75,000 worth of rental income on a villa he owns in the Dominican Republic. Other accusations since have surfaced and the ethics panel expanded its investigation twice.