Schumer won't talk about Rangel fundraiser

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) wouldn't talk about his attendance at Wednesday night's fundraiser for Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.).

Schumer was chatty with Senate reporters after Thursday morning's brief special Senate session to pass a border security bill.

But he clammed up when asked about the Rangel event.

The senator was one of several politicians at Rangel's 80th birthday party at the Plaza Hotel, which doubled as a fundraiser. Among others spotted were fellow New Yorkers Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (D), Attorney General Andrew Cuomo, who's running for governor, and Gov. David Paterson (D).

Asked why he attended, Schumer was curt.

"I've said everything I'm going to say about that last night," he told reporters in a hallway outside the Senate chamber.

Rangel faces 13 charges of ethics violations from the House ethics committee and goes on trial in September. He gave a fiery speech this week on the House floor in which he maintained his innocence and refused to resign.