Rep. Rangel expects Thursday ethics hearing to go forward

“I hope that justice, fair play and equity prevails,” Rangel
(D-N.Y.) said in response to a question about whether he was seeking a settlement.

Asked if that means there is no settlement, Rangel said, “I don’t know.”

Asked whether he thought his ethics hearing would go
forward, Rangel replied, “yes.”

{mosads}Rangel is coming under increasing pressure to agree to a
deal with the ethics committee to avoid a public trial that Democrats fear
could hurt their party. The trial would be expected to take place just weeks
before the midterm elections.

Two Democrats have called on Rangel to resign, and Majority
Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) on Tuesday said the chairman must decide whether he
will do a deal or go forward with the public trial.

The Associated Press on Tuesday reported that Rangel’s lawyer is in talks with non-partisan staff on the House ethics panel aimed at settling the case.

This story was updated at 4:09 p.m.