WASHINGTON (AP) -- New York Rep. Charles Rangel can expect a September trial before the House ethics committee, the same month he has a primary.
House investigators accused the veteran congressman Thursday of 13 violations of congressional ethics standards, including failure to report rental income from vacation property in the Dominican Republic .
Rangel says, "Even though they are serious charges, I'm prepared to prove that the only thing I've ever had in my 50 years of public service is service."
Rangel also is accused of violating House standards of conduct by using congressional letterhead to solicit donations for a center for public service to bear Rangel's name on the New York campus of the City College of New York.
The charges came as lawyers for Rangel and the House ethics committee worked out a plea deal, according to people familiar with the talks. But Republicans on the ethics committee indicated it was too late.
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