The House ethics committee is recommending that 20-term Harlem Congressman Charles Rangel be censured. They deliberated for about three hours before reaching their decision. The final vote was nine-to-one.
Before the panel released their verdict, Rangel issued a final plea for leniency. He also asked the committee to make it clear in its recommendation to the full House that he meant no harm.
"Any action taken by me was not with the intention to bring any disgrace to the House or to enrich myself personally," he said.
Censure is the harshest punishment available short of expulsion from the House.