Former Rep. Charles Rangel Dies At 94

Former Democratic New York Rep. Charles Rangel, a high-ranking House lawmaker who served 46 years in Congress, died Monday at age 94.

Rangel’s death was announced in a statement provided by City College of New York (CCNY). CCNY’s statement described Rangel as a “war hero, history-making congressman, and master lawmaker.”

Rangel was a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, and also became the first black member of Congress to become the chair of the powerful tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee in 2007. He was first elected to Congress in 1970, and represented a New York City-based district for 23 terms, from 1971 to 2017.

In 2010, Rangel stepped down from the Ways and Means Committee amid growing backlash over ethics violations. The House voted to censure him in a 333-79 vote in December 2010, due to multiple ethics violations.

“I know in my heart I am not going to be judged by this Congress,” Rangel said after the censure vote. “I’ll be judged by my life in its entirety.”

Known as a key ally of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi,