The ethics subcommittee panel investigating 13 charges of impropriety against Rep. Charles Rangel is recommending that he be reprimanded. Rep. Rangel still faces a September trial by an eight-member panel in September. The panel has the power to dismiss any of the allegations against him or to censure the veteran lawmaker who has represented his Harlem district for 40 years. The panel can also recommend expulsion. 

A reprimand is less serious than a censure, which requires not only a vote but forces a member to appear at the front of the chamber while the speaker or another designated member reads the censure resolution.

More from The Hill:

Rep. Gene Green (D-Texas), chairman of the ethics investigative subcommittee that announced the charges, told reporters Friday that his panel concluded Rangel should be reprimanded.

"The recommendation that we had was that he be reprimanded," Green said.

Such a punishment might be seen as a slap on the wrist to some. The subpanel could have recommended that Rangel be censured, or that he be expelled from the House. There was no recommendation for punishment listed in the lengthy report issued by Green's panel on Thursday.

Politico also offers some background as to why this scandal is not likely to cause the Democrats any lasting damage.

First, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and other party leaders advising Democrats to stay calm – lawmakers say the dearth of calls for Rangel’s head reflects a mix of respect for both him personally and the institution. They see a veteran member of Congress, a war hero who has served the nation and Harlem in Washington, and don’t want to “jump on his bones,” as one Democrat put it.

“The process will work,” Pelosi said. “It’s bipartisan; the chips will have to fall where they may politically, but upholding the highest ethical standard is the highest priority for us.”

Second, Democrats believe the Rangel scandal isn't really hurting them all that badly back in their home districts. Some House Democrats think the media is overplaying the possible national implications of the case.

"I am not aware of anyone who is going to lose their election over this," said one senior Democrat. "Until it becomes a problem for other members, they will stick with Charlie."

And finally, in spite of the sordid nature of some of the Rangel allegations, the "Statement of Alleged Violations" released by a four-member investigative subcommittee on Thursday, didn't contain any new blockbusters. Members have been hearing about Rangel's ethics problems for two years, so the actual list of ethics charges had less impact because there were no surprises.

"This is a sad, individual tragedy," said one junior Democrat in a swing district. "But despite what the media is saying, this is not playing nationally, and there's no sign it will."

Rep. Anthony Weiner who represents the New York Ninth Congressional District went ballistic on the House floor Thursday over his Republican colleagues' procedural objection to an amendment to the Public Health Services Act. The amendment would extend and improve health care benefits for 9/11 victims suffering from lasting health complications. The bill ultimately failed to get the needed two-thirds majority, 255-159, setting the stage for Rep. Weiner's outburst.

More from Talking Points Memo:

In a rant that lasted for almost two minutes, a hopping mad Weiner railed against "cowardly" Republicans who claimed they were voting against the bill because of "procedure." Weiner spat: "It's Republicans wrapping their arms around Republicans, rather than doing the right thing on behalf of the heroes!"

Weiner attacked those who "stand up and say, 'Oh, if only we had a different process we'd vote yes.' You vote yes if you believe yes! You vote in favor of something if you believe it's the right thing! If you believe it's the wrong thing, you vote no!"

"It is a shame! A shame," he exclaimed.

Kudos to Rep. Weiner. The Republicans are shameless and they need to be called on it.

The longtime New York Congressman Charlie Rangel who has served 20 terms in the House rising to become Chair of the powerful Ways and Means committee has reportedly failed to strike a deal in an effort to avoid a publicly humiliating trial over ethics violations. Rep. Rangel is being charged with misusing his office for fundraising, failure to disclose income, belated payment of taxes and possible help with a tax shelter for a company whose CEO was a major donor.

The story in the New York Times.

The House ethics committee laid out 13 charges of House rules violations against Representative Charles B. Rangel on Thursday, and began the process for a public trial on the charges.

The move came after Mr. Rangel, a veteran congressman, failed to reach a settlement to avoid the rare and potentially embarrassing proceeding before the committee gathered at 1 p.m.

Mr. Rangel’s lawyers continued to hope they could still settle the case.

The charges against Mr. Rangel, a Democrat from Harlem, include multiple breaches of the House ban on accepting gifts of more than $50 and of the requirement that members act at all times in a way that reflects creditably on the House.

Committee members struck a somber but determined tone in their brief public meeting, expressing affection for Mr. Rangel while at the same time saying they needed to uphold the integrity of Congress, especially given its dismal standing with the public.

“Credibility is exactly what is at stake here — the very credibility of the House of Representatives itself before the American people,” said an ethics committee member, Representative Michael McCaul, a Republican of Texas.

The charges involve four areas: Mr. Rangel’s solicitation of contributions to a school to be named in his honor at City College of New York; his errors and omissions on his House financial disclosure forms; his acceptance of rent-stabilized apartments in Harlem, including one for his campaign office; and his failure to report and pay taxes on rental income on a beach villa he owns in the Dominican Republic.

Mr. Rangel did not appear at the meeting on Thursday, but has submitted a written response to the charges.

The last time the House held a public trial of a member was in 2002, after Ohio Democrat Representative James Traficant had been convicted criminally of accepting bribes. Rep. Traficant was expelled from the House and later served time in prison.

Rep. Rangel has already admitted some of the minor charges but seems averse to acknowledge that he misused his position as chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee in early 2007 by helping to preserve a tax break for an oil executive who pledged $1 million to help build the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at the City College of New York.

The longtime New York Congressman Charlie Rangel who has served 20 terms in the House rising to become Chair of the powerful Ways and Means committee has reportedly failed to strike a deal in an effort to avoid a publicly humiliating trial over ethics violations. Rep. Rangel is being charged with misusing his office for fundraising, failure to disclose income, belated payment of taxes and possible help with a tax shelter for a company whose CEO was a major donor.

The story in the New York Times.

The House ethics committee laid out 13 charges of House rules violations against Representative Charles B. Rangel on Thursday, and began the process for a public trial on the charges.

The move came after Mr. Rangel, a veteran congressman, failed to reach a settlement to avoid the rare and potentially embarrassing proceeding before the committee gathered at 1 p.m.

Mr. Rangel’s lawyers continued to hope they could still settle the case.

The charges against Mr. Rangel, a Democrat from Harlem, include multiple breaches of the House ban on accepting gifts of more than $50 and of the requirement that members act at all times in a way that reflects creditably on the House.

Committee members struck a somber but determined tone in their brief public meeting, expressing affection for Mr. Rangel while at the same time saying they needed to uphold the integrity of Congress, especially given its dismal standing with the public.

“Credibility is exactly what is at stake here — the very credibility of the House of Representatives itself before the American people,” said an ethics committee member, Representative Michael McCaul, a Republican of Texas.

The charges involve four areas: Mr. Rangel’s solicitation of contributions to a school to be named in his honor at City College of New York; his errors and omissions on his House financial disclosure forms; his acceptance of rent-stabilized apartments in Harlem, including one for his campaign office; and his failure to report and pay taxes on rental income on a beach villa he owns in the Dominican Republic.

Mr. Rangel did not appear at the meeting on Thursday, but has submitted a written response to the charges.

The last time the House held a public trial of a member was in 2002, after Ohio Democrat Representative James Traficant had been convicted criminally of accepting bribes. Rep. Traficant was expelled from the House and later served time in prison.

Rep. Rangel has already admitted some of the minor charges but seems averse to acknowledge that he misused his position as chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee in early 2007 by helping to preserve a tax break for an oil executive who pledged $1 million to help build the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at the City College of New York.

The longtime New York Congressman Charlie Rangel who has served 20 terms in the House rising to become Chair of the powerful Ways and Means committee has reportedly failed to strike a deal in an effort to avoid a publicly humiliating trial over ethics violations. Rep. Rangel is being charged with misusing his office for fundraising, failure to disclose income, belated payment of taxes and possible help with a tax shelter for a company whose CEO was a major donor.

The story in the New York Times.

The House ethics committee laid out 13 charges of House rules violations against Representative Charles B. Rangel on Thursday, and began the process for a public trial on the charges.

The move came after Mr. Rangel, a veteran congressman, failed to reach a settlement to avoid the rare and potentially embarrassing proceeding before the committee gathered at 1 p.m.

Mr. Rangel’s lawyers continued to hope they could still settle the case.

The charges against Mr. Rangel, a Democrat from Harlem, include multiple breaches of the House ban on accepting gifts of more than $50 and of the requirement that members act at all times in a way that reflects creditably on the House.

Committee members struck a somber but determined tone in their brief public meeting, expressing affection for Mr. Rangel while at the same time saying they needed to uphold the integrity of Congress, especially given its dismal standing with the public.

“Credibility is exactly what is at stake here — the very credibility of the House of Representatives itself before the American people,” said an ethics committee member, Representative Michael McCaul, a Republican of Texas.

The charges involve four areas: Mr. Rangel’s solicitation of contributions to a school to be named in his honor at City College of New York; his errors and omissions on his House financial disclosure forms; his acceptance of rent-stabilized apartments in Harlem, including one for his campaign office; and his failure to report and pay taxes on rental income on a beach villa he owns in the Dominican Republic.

Mr. Rangel did not appear at the meeting on Thursday, but has submitted a written response to the charges.

The last time the House held a public trial of a member was in 2002, after Ohio Democrat Representative James Traficant had been convicted criminally of accepting bribes. Rep. Traficant was expelled from the House and later served time in prison.

Rep. Rangel has already admitted some of the minor charges but seems averse to acknowledge that he misused his position as chairman of the powerful Ways and Means Committee in early 2007 by helping to preserve a tax break for an oil executive who pledged $1 million to help build the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at the City College of New York.