Reed Calls on Massa to Return $67,000 Raised From Rangel Committees

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

In light of a report regarding Congressman Charles Rangel released by the House ethics committee days ago, Tom Reed this morning called on Congressman Eric Massa to return $67,822 that Massa's campaign committee received through Rangel's fund raising committees.According to Federal Election Commission records, Congressman Massa accepted a total of $67,822 ($50,822 through the Rangel Victory Fund, $11,000 from Rangel's National LeadershipPAC and $6,000 from Rangel for Congress), from Rangel during the 2008 and 2010 election cycles.

The most recent transfer from Rangel to Massa was made just months ago in 2009 when Congressman Rangel hosted a fund raiser for Massa at the home of a Washington DC lobbyist. The House ethics committee report finds Rangel guilty of violating House gift rules by accepting corporate-sponsored trips to the Caribbean in 2007 and 2008, a clear violation of House rules. There is a much larger ethics investigation focusing on Rangel’s belated financial disclosure of hundreds of thousands of dollars in previously unreported assets and income and other charges. 

"People in the 29th Congressional District work honestly and pay their taxes," Reed said. "In light of House ethics committee's report and investigations, I call upon Congressman Massa to do the right thing and return the nearly $68,000 he has received from Congressman Rangel." Congressman Massa is one of just eight House members to accept money from Congressman Rangel's PAC in 2009.

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