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WASHINGTON, Sept. 29 (UPI) -- House Republicans have called on Democrats to schedule ethics trials for Reps. Charles Rangel and Maxine Waters before the Nov. 2 elections. Rep. Jo Bonner, R-Ala., ranking Republican on the House ethics panel, accused Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., and committee Democrats of "stalling" the hearings on the two veteran Democratic lawmakers, The Hill reported Tuesday.
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"It is in the best interest of transparency and fairness to the American people, Reps. Charlie Rangel and Maxine Waters and other members of the U.S. House of Representatives that the House ethics committee stop stalling the resolution of the Rangel and Waters matters and complete these public trials prior to the November elections," Bonner and the four other GOP members of the committee said in a statement.
Bonner took issue with comments made by House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer that, among other things, attributed the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct's inability to set trial dates before the November election to "scheduling problems."
The Alabama Republican said Lofgren "repeatedly refused to set either the Rangel or Waters trial before the November election."
He said committee members have expressed a willingness to meet in October and conduct the trials.
"Representative Rangel and Representative Waters have publicly and rightfully demanded the setting of their respective trials prior to the November election to ensure swift and fair resolution of their matters," Bonner wrote. "In our opinion, Representatives Rangel and Waters deserve the opportunity to publicly and timely address the charges against them."
A House ethics subcommittee charged Rangel, D-N.Y., in July with 13 counts of violating House rules and U.S. laws. Waters, D-Calif., allegedly violated House ethics rules by arranging a meeting for executives of OneUnited Bank and the National Bankers Association with Treasury Department officials. Waters' husband, Sidney Williams, has strong ties to OneUnited.
