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Rep. Charles Rangel (D) of New York on Thursday may become the 23rd House member to be censured by his colleagues, in the history of the institution. For lawmakers who break the rules, censure is one of the punishment options specified in the US Constitution (the others are expulsion, reprimand, or a fine). A public verbal rebuke from the House speaker is usually the outcome of a censure vote – humiliating, yes, but much less draconian than expulsion.
Mr. Rangel is in trouble for 11 ethics violations related to his personal finances and fundraising efforts for a New York college. A censure vote has not occurred in the House in 27 years. Here are the five congressmen censured most recently, for matters ranging from fraud to sexual misconduct to “unparliamentary language.”
Rep. Gerry Studds in an undated file photo. (Newscom/File)
Rep. Gerry Studds, 1983
Rep. Gerry Studds (D) of Massachusetts was censured for engaging in sexual relations with a male congressional page. Mr. Studds, the first openly gay congressman, refused to apologize for his conduct, which he described as a “consensual relationship with a young adult.” He did, however, acknowledge committing “a very serious error in judgment.”
Studds was censured the same day as Crane, on a 420-3 vote. The censure did not affect Studds’ reelection. He retired in 1997 after serving six terms.
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