WASHINGTON, April 23 (UPI) -- U.S. Rep. Charles Rangel is suing House Speaker John Boehner for allegedly mishandling the 2010 investigation that resulted in his public censure, records show.
Rangel, D-N.Y., is suing Boehner, R-Ohio, and six other lawmakers with the goal of overturning the censure for ethics violations and failure to comply with tax laws, The Hill reported Monday.
Rangel filed a complaint in federal court in Washington claiming the Ethics Committee is guilty of "numerous flagrant, knowing and intentional violations" of his due process rights.
Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., and ranking member Jo Bonner, R-Ala., "knowingly deceived" House members who approved the censure, making them believe the investigation "had been conducted in accordance with procedural rules and the protection of [Rangel's] constitutional rights," the complaint states.
Rangel's attorney, Jay Goldberg, said his client "has suffered and will continue to suffer injury in fact, which is fairly and directly traceable to the imposed action.
"The injury will likely be redressed by a favorable decision of this court," Goldberg said in the complaint.
"The House overwhelmingly voted to censure then-Chairman Rangel by a bipartisan vote of 333-79," a House aide told The Hill. "It's sad that he has resorted to such tactics in the face of damning evidence."
Reps. Michael McCaul, R-Texas, Mike Conaway, R-Texas, Charlie Dent, R-Pa., and Gregg Harper, R-Miss., also are named in the complaint.
