NBC-MSNBC reporter Luke Russert set off New York Congressman Charlie Rangel during a television interview yesterday when he brought up the possibility of a trial over ethics violations.
The question was raised by Russert following the news that an investigative subcommittee of the House Ethics Committee alleges that Rangel violated a range of ethics rules. A special subcommittee will rule on the finds and Rangel will face a trial-like, formal hearing.
Young Russert, 24, son of the late Tim Russert, asked the congressional representative if he was fearful of losing his job. This was apparently a hot button issue for the fourth-most senior member of the House.
Eighty-year-old Rangel challenged: “What are you talking about? You just trying to make copy? How do you think I got my job? I was elected. How do you think I lose it?”
Russert reminded Charlie that he could also be voted out by his colleagues over the ethics violations.
This really fired up Rangel, who asked: “What station are you from? While you’re young, I guess you do need to make a name for yourself, but basically you know it’s a dumb question. It doesn’t really sound like NBC asking these dumb questions, but it just shows what has really happened to a channel that did have some respect.”
Apparently Rangel decided this morning that it was prudent to apologize to Luke Russert for berating him. He said during a news conference this morning: “I had a very good conversation with Luke Russert this morning and apologized for the way I treated him on television.”
Check out the video below:
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