Rep. Charles Rangel, a New York Democrat who stepped down as chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee earlier this year because of questions about his travel and personal finances, has been formally charged with violating congressional ethics rules.  The Committee on Standards and Official Conduct just made the bombshell announcement in a terse statement that set an initial hearing date for next week. It's a potential public relations disaster for Democrats, who took over the House in 2007 promising to "drain the swamp," in one of Speaker Nancy Pelosi's favorite phrases, after several prominent Republicans, including former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, a Texas Republican, ran into ethics problems.  Update, 5:23 p.m. ET: USA TODAY's John Fritze just caught up with Rangel on Capitol Hill and the longtime Harlem lawmaker insisted that he will be vindicated. "I've waited a long time and at long last the sun will be piercing the cloud that I have been carrying," Rangel said. He "looks forward to responding" to the committee's charges, the congressman continued, adding that he hopes the case will be resolved before New York's Sept. 14 primary election.  Rangel is facing a primary opponent with a familiar name: Adam Clayton Powell. Powell, a member of the New York legislature, is the son and namesake of a legendary lawmaker whom Rangel defeated 40 years ago to launch his House career.  We happened to be speaking to Powell earlier today -- before the ethics committee's announcement -- and he was touting a recent poll that showed Rangel's approval ratings sagging. "He has lost a lot of respect," Powell said. "This is going to be a close race."  Rangel, 80, known for his dapper wardrobe and rapier repartee, is now one of the most senior members of the Democratic caucus. First elected in 1970, he rose through the ranks to become the first African American to chair the Ways and Means Committee, widely regarded as one of the most powerful panels on Capitol Hill because it oversees the nation's tax code.  Earlier this year, the House ethics panel admonished Rangel for letting private corporations pick up the tab for trips to the Caribbean. Left unresolved at the time were questions about other alleged ethics violations, including Rangel's failure to report rental income from his villa in the Dominican Republic on his annual congressional financial disclosure forms.  To report corrections and clarifications, contact Standards Editor  . For publication consideration in the newspaper, send comments to  . Include name, phone number, city and state for verification. To view our corrections, go to
Veteran House Rep. Charles Rangel facing ethics charges - On Politics: Covering the US Congress, Governors, and the 2010 Election - USATODAY.com