Charles Rangel sold Dominican home noted in ethics investigation

By Jordana Ossad, CNN

STORY HIGHLIGHTS

Charles Rangel sold his villa in the Dominican Republic
Rangel purchased the home in 1987 but failed to pay taxes on it for 17 years
It was sold for somewhere between $250,000 and $500,000
Rangel was guilty on 11 counts of violating House rules

New York (CNN) -- Veteran Rep. Charles Rangel has sold his villa in the Dominican Republic that was the focus of a House ethics investigation.

The home in Punta Cana, which Rangel purchased in 1987 but failed to pay taxes on for 17 years, was sold for somewhere between $250,000 and $500,000, according to his personal financial disclosure report, which was released Wednesday.

The house was sold in December 2010, the report said.

A House ethics subcommittee found the 20-term Harlem Democrat guilty on 11 counts of violating House rules during that same month.

They included failure to pay taxes, misuse of a rent-controlled apartment for political purposes and improper use of government mail service and letterhead.

The former chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee was cleared of a charge relating to an alleged violation of the House gift ban.

The House of Representatives later censured Rangel in a 333-79 vote, which required him to stand in the well of the House as a formal censure resolution was read aloud by former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, D-California.

Rangel, who is a senior member of the Congressional Black Caucus, became the 23rd House member in history to be censured. Nine others have been reprimanded.