Sorry, Charlie

The National Legal and Policy Center has led the investigation into the financial misrepresentations by House Ways and Means Chairman Rep. Charles Rangel (D-NY). Today the NLPC has a new ally, The Washington Post. In an editorial dated 9/3/09 The Washington Post is calling for Charles Rangel to resign from the chairmanship:

http://www.nlpc.org/stories/2009/09/03/washington-post-calls-rangel-resign-ways-and-means-chairmanship

The Washington Post editorial:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/02/AR2009090203082.html?sub=AR

The NLPC makes an important point that resignation should not be the end of this investigation, there must be criminal prosecution:

• We welcome the Post editorial but it does not address an even more serious matter— whether Rangel will face criminal prosecution.
  
• The scale of Rangel’s omissions means they could have only been willful and deliberate.
  
• Yes, the Post is right. Rangel should resign. If he refuses, it is incumbent upon House Speaker Nancy Pelosi to remove him. But that should not be the end of it. He should also be subject to criminal prosecution.