Pelosi Quotes Rangel: ‘The Gospel of Matthew Made Me Do It’

House Majority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said last week that Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.)--who was censured by Congress in December for multiple ethics violations--has often told his congressional colleagues: “The Gospel of Matthew made me do it.”

Pelosi made the remarks at a Capitol Hill reception for the unveiling of an oil painting of Rangel that will hang in the hearing room of the House Ways and Means Committee, where Rangel formerly served as chairman.

Rangel was forced to step down from that chairmanship last year while he was being investigated by the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.

“What I think what brings a passion to his work is the fact that Charlie Rangel is a deeply religious man,” Pelosi said. “How many times has he said to us: ‘The Gospel of Matthew made me do it.’ When the Gospel talked about the least of our brethren, when they were hungry, when they needed shelter, when they needed clothing. Even Christ said: 'When I was in prison, you visited me.’ Very, very important.

“So, in Charlie’s list of accomplishments, which are very too many to mention in this big crowd, standing this long--but they were about the Gospel of Matthew,” said Pelosi.

In her remarks at last week's reception, Pelosi said that Rangel’s career accomplishments were “about a patriotism of America, of liberty and justice for all. They were about being a grandfather and making the future better for the next generation.”

“So, I want to join the Speaker in saying this painting is not just about today, this portrait unveiling,” said Pelosi. “This is so that generations of children, when they come to the Capitol, when they come to this Ways and Means room, will see the painting of a man there who might have had beginnings similar to theirs, that may have had obstacles to overcome, who was a pioneer in representing the diversity of our country in the leadership of the Congress.”

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