Rangel broke ethics rules in taking trips, panel says

WASHINGTON – Rep. Charles Rangel, the most powerful tax-writing lawmaker in Congress and a 40-year veteran of Capitol Hill, acknowledged Thursday that an ethics panel has accused him of accepting corporate money for Caribbean trips in violation of House rules.

The panel exonerated five other members of the Congressional Black Caucus who also were on the trips but told them they will have to pay for them.

The findings are certain to raise questions of whether Rangel, a New York Democrat, can continue as Ways and Means Committee chairman in an election year.

The panel also ended another investigation Thursday, saying it found no violations of House rules by six lawmakers who steered government money and contracts to companies that had donated to their campaigns.