Waiting For Charlie

[Chris]

Waiting For Charlie

Emboldened by the Democrats' newly bolstered majority in the House, Rep. Charles Rangel doubtless anticipates siccing his Ways & Means Committee on the nation's financial mess.

But what about his own financial mess?  

The one being probed by the House Ethics Committee?

Rangel in September said he would hire a "forensic accountant" (think: "CSI: Charlie") to untangle a 20-year morass of tax returns and to determine just how much money he's made and how much in unpaid taxes he may still owe.

But as The Post's Isabel Vincent reported, two months later Rangel's lawyers claim they can't locate a single qualified firm that hasn't contributed to Rangel's campaigns or has no pending business before Ways & Means.

Poor Charlie can't find an accountant.  An innocent one, anyway.  That's his excuse and he's sticking to it.

[Chris_]

Waiting For Charlie
Poor Charlie can't find an accountant.  An innocent one, anyway.  That's his excuse and he's sticking to it.

Maybe this is the problem:

"Rangel's lawyers claim they can't locate a single qualified firm that hasn't contributed to Rangel's campaigns or has no pending business before Ways & Means."

The definition of "qualified firm" is one that HAS contributed to Rangel's campaigns or has no pending business before Ways & Means.