Congressional Black Caucus chair warns lawmakers against rush to judgment on Rangel

Black Caucus chair on Rangel: don’t presume guilt

WASHINGTON — The leader of the Congressional Black Caucus is warning lawmakers against rushing to judgment on whether one of its prominent members, Charles Rangel, is guilty of ethics violations.

California Democratic Rep. Barbara Lee’s statement Monday is likely to prevent, at least for now, any attempt by Democrats to pressure the New York Democrat to admit guilt and avoid an election-season ethics trial.

A House investigative panel has accused Rangel of violating standards of conduct, and the charges are to be publicly released Thursday before a separate ethics subcommittee that will render a verdict.

Lee said that “attempts by Republicans and Democrats to presume guilt … violates the core American principle of the presumption of innocence.”