Rep Charles Rangel Rep. Charles Rangel (DN. Y.) is facing a trial before the House Ethics Committee this week for alleged violations.

Rangel, on leave from his high-powered position of Ways and Means Committee chairman, will be scrutinized by the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, beginning Thursday this week.

He has welcomed the proceedings in order to clear the air. The committee will determine whether he violated ethics rules, including a fundraising matter and reporting of income on his financial disclo- sure forms. The investigation has been blasted by pundits as being part of disparate investigations of Congressional Black Caucus members. He has welcomed the proceedings in order to clear the air.The popular Congressman, in his 20th term, has continued to serve energetically on Capitol Hill and is running for re-election.

U. S. Rep. Barbara Lee (D-Calif) -- chairwoman of the Congressional Black Caucus, released a statement this week in regard to the trial:

“All Americans are entitled to a fair and due process, and that right extends to Congressman Rangel as well.

Any rush to judgment to short-circuit the ongoing review of Congressman Rangel by the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct will do a disservice to the well established processes of the House of Representatives," she said.