Democrat Charlie Rangel represents New York's 15th Congressional District in the House . He is the longest serving African American in Congress, after having been elected in 1970.http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jD3aB44iYyBmd0hjuH7dYeo6K1lQD9E7CCI00

Rangel resigned his position a Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee under pressure because of ethics violations. He wrote to Speaker Nancy Pelosi on March 2, 2010, requesting a leave of absence during the ethics inquiry, but it is considered doubtful he will return to the position.http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/04/nyregion/04rangel.html (This committee is responsible for legislation concerning taxes and many social services, and its members are not allowed to serve in any other committees). The week before his temporary resignation was announced, the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct committee found that he had traveled to the Caribbean in 2007 and 2008, against House rules.http://www.latimes.com/news/la-na-rangel4-2010mar04,0,5003518.story Also under fire is his late disclusure of funds from a rent-controlled apartment building and his fund raising methods to get a New York college center in his name. Since the announcement, four politicians have donated the campaign funds given to them by Rangel and donated the funds to charity.http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jD3aB44iYyBmd0hjuH7dYeo6K1lQD9E7CCI00

Rangel's district, which includes Upper Manhattan and some of Queens, is the smallest district, geographically, in the nation.http://www.house.gov/rangel/bio.shtml

Rangel released an autobiography titled I Haven't Had a Bad Day Yet in 2007.http://books.google.com/books?id=9aBMnAO06ckC&dq=Charles+Rangel+I+Haven%27t+Had+a+Bad+Day+Yet&printsec=frontcover&source=bn&hl=en&ei=4PiOS4i1IYmXtgeex926Cw&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=4&ved=0CA0Q6AEwAw#v=onepage&q=&f=false

Rangel dropped out of high school at age 16 and soon after joined the U.S. Army. He served as a Sergeant during the Korean War, from 1948 to 1952, in the all-black 503rd Field Artillery Battalion. After leaving the Army, he completed high school and then went on to study law at St. John's University. He worked for a time as Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Southern District of New York.House.gov: Congressman Charles B. Rangel

Rangel served for four years in the New York State Assembly before being elected to the House in 1970, where he has worked ever since. In that time, he participated in the impeachment proceedings against Richard Nixon, co-founded the Congressional Black Caucus, encouraged Hillary Rodham Clinton to run for the Senate in New York and has repeatedly fought for the reinstatement of the military draft.

Rangel has been arrested while taking part in a variety of protests, including an anti-apartheid rally in the 1980s and a March 15, 1999 incident at an event in memory of Amadou Diallo, a black man who was shot to death by four white police officers.Time Out New York: The Hot Seat (December 7, 2006)

Rangel's somewhat outspoken demeanor has caused controversy in recent years. His targets have ranged from Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez, Vice President Dick Cheney (whom Rangel suggested could benefit from treatment for "mental defects") and presidential candidates Rudy Giuliani and Mitt Romney, whom Rangel mocked in an interview with CNN's Wolf Blitzer.ABC News: Key Clinton Backer Rips Giuliani's Personal Life (October 20, 2007)

In January of 2008, Rangel apologized to Barack Obama for misquoting the candidate's discussion of the role of Martin Luther King Jr. in the Civil Rights Movement.NY Daily News: Rangel: Obama's MLK Attack 'Absolutely Stupid' (January 14, 2008)

On July 15, 2008 it was reported that Charles Rangel was allegedly soliciting up to $30 million in donations to fund his own academic center. Reports indicate that this type of fundraising exhibits the potential for companies and investors to feel coerced into donating money due to Rangel's position. The story comes on the heels of a report stating that Rangel rents four apartments and uses one as a campaign office, when the city of New York requires that rent-controlled apartments be used as a primary residence only.FOX News: Report: Rangel Uses Office to Solicit Donations to Academic Center (July 15, 2008)

• June 11, 1930: Born, New York, New York

• 1948-1954: Serves in U.S. Army

• 1957: Receives Bachelor's Degree from New York Univserity

• 1960: Receives Juris Doctor Degree from St. John's University

• 1966-1970: Serves in New York State Assembly

• 1971-Current: Serves as representative to New York's 15th District