Rangel’s Misdeeds a Boon for Local Charities

Congressman John Hall is writing checks for $2,100 each to 10 local charities, giving away all $21,000 he has received from the disgraced former chairman of the powerful House Way and Means Committee, Charlie Rangel.

“Once the ethics committee reached a finding, the congressman felt it was appropriate to donate the money to a worthy cause,” said Doug MacPherson, Hall’s communications director.

The charities that will be receiving the money include Pegasus Therapeutic Riding, in Brewster; the women’s shelter of the Northern Westchester Women’s Resource Center; Fred’s Food Pantry in Peekskill; the Food Bank of Hudson Valley; and the Veteran’s Food Pantry at Castle Point.

Five local fireman’s associations will also receive the $2,100 checks. Among them the Orange Country Fireman’s Association, the Rockland Country Volunteer Fireman’s Association, the Dutchess County Volunteer Association, the Putnam and Northern Westchester Fire Police Association, and the Westchester County Volunteer Fireman’s Association.

Rangel stepped from his position after an ethics panel deemed that a corporatesubsidized trip he took to the Caribbean was accepted inappropriately. Democratic candidates across the country have been shedding campaign contributions from Rangel, often giving them to charity.

Democratic candidates have, in total, given away almost $400,000 of Rangel’s tainted money to charities across the country. In a neighboring district in Connecticut, Congressman Jim Himes has given $4,000 checks to ABCD, Inc. of Bridgeport; NEON of Norwalk; and the Housing Development Fund serving Southwest Connecticut. Himes gave away $16,000 of Rangel’s money in all.

Hall’s spokesman, Doug MacPherson, who stepped in as communications director last week, confirmed that the donations were being discussed as early as last Thursday.