Ethics watchdog renews call for Rangel resignation

After Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) was found guilty of violating House ethics rules, the ethics watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington (CREW) again called on him to resign from Congress. 

CREW Executive Director Melanie Sloan approved of the decision and said Rangel should resign. 

"All of Mr. Rangel's theatrics aside, the facts were clear: Mr. Rangel violated numerous House rules and federal laws. Whether these violations were deliberate or inadvertent, the American people deserve to be represented by members of Congress who adhere to the highest ethical standards," Sloan said in a statement. "Mr. Rangel should resign."

A House ethics panel found Rangel committed 11 of the 13 of the violations with which he was charged. The committee will consider a punishment for the 20-term lawmaker and send it to the full ethics panel for consideration. 

If they recommend a serious punishment, such as expulsion, censure or a formal reprimand, the full House will have to vote to enact it. Expulsion requires a two-thirds majority while the latter two require a majority.