Rangel to deliver speech on House floor

Embattled
Rep. Charles Rangel plans to deliver a speech on the House
floor Tuesday, and some on Capitol Hill expect it to address the
ethics charges that have been brought against the New York Democrat.

There
was speculation before the House adjourned last month that Rangel would
deliver such a speech, but Rangel declined to comment to reporters at
that time.

An ethics panel in July charged Rangel with 13 violations of House
ethics rules. He has chosen to fight the allegations and will face a public ethics committee trial this fall. He also faces a primary
challenge on Sept. 14.

After a 21-month investigation, the ethics panel accused Rangel of
failing to pay taxes on rental income from a Dominican Republic villa;
of improperly using his office to solicit millions of dollars in funds
for an education center bearing his name at the City College of New
York; and of improperly using a rent-stabilized apartment for his
campaign offices.