Charles Rangel steps down as committee chair

Under continuing questions about possible ethics violations, New York Congressman Charles Rangel announced this morning he would temporarily step down as chair of the powerful Ways and Means Committee. Rangel, who is the dean of his state’s delegation, said he would relinquish control of the influential post in order to allow an investigation by the Ethics Committee to run its course.

Among the inquiries about Rangel’s conduct are corporate-sponsored trips to the Caribbean in 2007 and more serious allegations of unlawful fund-raising and tax evasion. Takeway Washington correspondent Todd Zwillich to tells us more about this breaking news.