Evidently backroom deals are such second nature for Representative Charlie Rangel (D-New York) that cutting one seemed like a reasonable way to deal with the ethics charges against him. According to people close to the investigation against the embattled Congressman, Mr. Rangel's attorneys met with Democratic ethics committee staff this week in an attempt to avoid Thursday's scheduled public ethics trial. (source) While no one will publicly state whether Representative Rangel himself or Ethics Committee Chairwoman Zoe Lofgren (D-California) were present at the meeting, it's clear that none of the Republicans on the committee were in attendance. Since at least one Republican on that non-partisan committee must agree to any settlement, holding meetings without them won't help Mr. Rangel's cause.

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Meanwhile fellow Democrats are trying to distance themselves from the Rangel issue. At a news conference intended to detail the party's message during the August recess, reporters insisted on asking Rangel related questions to which House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Maryland) responded, "I think everyone would like to have it go away in the sense that this is not a pleasant process."

Two Democratic House members, Representative Walt Minnick (D-Idaho) and Representative Betty Sutton (D-Ohio), have called for Mr. Rangel to resign and several have returned campaign funds they received from him to avoid the appearance of any connection with the scandal. (source) But Representative Rangel remains defiant in light of this underwhelming support from his party.

When asked about the charges which are expected to include his failure to disclose assets, pay taxes on rent from a Dominican villa, and using office letterhead stationery to raise money for a center named after him, the former Chairman of the House Ways & Means Committee snapped, "Why don't you wait until you know what the facts are?" (source)

We'll all get a good long look at those facts on Thursday as long as Mr. Rangel and his fellow Democrats don't orchestrate some sleazy backroom deal to hide the truth and avoid responsibility before then.