Abbe Lowell Stops by the Rangel Hearing

Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) briefly faced a House ethics trial this morning without legal representation, but that doesn't mean there were no lawyers with him.

Among those in the room was McDermott Will & Emery partner Abbe Lowell, who often represents political figures who are in legal trouble. He represented former lobbyist Jack Abramoff and he worked for House Democrats during the impeachment process for President Bill Clinton. He recently represented another prominent New York politician, Joseph Bruno, formerly the Republican leader of that state’s Senate.

Lowell’s attendance at Rangel’s proceeding was reported today by the conservative website Human Events. In response to an e-mail request for comment, Lowell writes that he was not at the proceeding as the lawmaker’s lawyer, though Rangel had explored that possibility.

“I am a friend and came to watch,” Lowell writes. “I was one of a few attorneys who Congressman Rangel asked to consider representing him if the Committee gave him time and the ability. But they didn't.”

Rangel has apparently been without a legal team since last month, when he parted ways with a Zuckerman Spaeder team led by partner Leslie Kiernan. Neither side explained the reason for the decision, though Rangel had publicly bemoaned how much the House’s investigation had cost him in legal fees.

Prior to leaving the proceeding this morning, Rangel sparred with the eight-member, bipartisan committee that had gathered to hear evidence against him. He said he needed more time to find a new lawyer and to allow that person to get up to speed, and he accused the committee of rushing to finish his case before the holidays and the start of the 112th Congress in January.

“Notwithstanding the political calendar, I am entitled to a lawyer at this proceeding,” Rangel said, according to C-SPAN’s video.

He added that several lawyers were willing to give him counsel for free, but the House ethics committee has warned that pro bono services would be considered a gift under ethics rules. “I heard that perhaps they can do it at reduced fees or fair fees,” Rangel said, “if only we have time.”

Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.), who is presiding over Rangel’s trial, responded that Rangel has had a month to find new legal representation.

Comments

[Welred]

Mr. Jefferson, give me a break. Mr. Rangel is a criminal and needs to pay for his crimes. Black, white, blue, green -- his skin makes no difference to his grotesque and hypocritical behavior. And when such criminal behavior is displayed by an elected public "servant," it deserves our soundest condemnation. Mr. Rangel's pathetic attempt to whine and moan today, saying "I don't have counsel" is a classic weasel's tactic. He has had plenty of time to get new counsel. He is a crook and deserves to be treated like a crook. The only people more despicable than Mr. Rangel are the people who re-elected him, thus inflicting his criminal indifference on the rest of this country. May he and his electorate disappear quickly and quietly.

[Mark Jefferson]

Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) should tell the House ethics committee to go to hell and leave him alone! These trumph up charges is just another way of "lynching" any negro to dare speake out against the criminal ways of Congress. At the end of the day, Rangel is going to be dead BROKE! I'm sure that there are enough other pressing concerns that our nation could use their full committed attention. How about those greedy Wall Street bankers and their cozy relationships with other House members? Not one single conviction! Yet, Congress has allocated millions of additonal dollars to the Justice Department. The only convictions that they have secured are the small time mom and pops loan originators and neighborhood brokers! Congress know damm well that Wall Street bankers used these poor people, while they made and continue to make billions in fruadulant foreclosures!!!!!! Hey, Mr. Rangel you can tell them that a "mind is a terrible thing to waste". The gathering of several mindless committee members is a national disaster!

[Kelly Arnold]

Well Mr Rangel is a politician and he simply is milking out time for reasons only he knows! HE also knows how to "filibuster" for time to continue this till "hell freezes over". So his age is 80?, so how much time does he have left really on this earth. Yes he is entitled to legal represention but are our grandchildren going to read of the final outcome of this. The facts are not disputed, only the leganeze is being worked out. Remember he was a lawyer and did not do what he did without some legal advice.