Former congressman Rangel dies at 94

Charles Rangel speaks at a news conference outside the Bronx County Courthouse in New York, May 21, 1985. Rangel, the former dean of New York’s congressional delegation, who became the first Black chairman of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, only to relinquish that position when he was censured for an ethics violation, died on Monday, May 26, 2025. He was 94. (Eddie Hausner/The New York Times)

By The Star Staff

Charles Rangel, the longtime U.S. congressman from New York City who represented Puerto Ricans living in that city, and the last surviving member of the “Gang of Four,” died Monday. He was 94.

U.S. Rep. Nydia Velázquez (D-N.Y.) said via Twitter “that his legacy runs deep, and his impact will not soon be forgotten. May he rest in peace.”

Born in Harlem, Rangel, whose father was from Ponce, was a member of the House of Representatives for 46 years. He was a Korean War veteran and a founding member of the Congressional Black Caucus, according to stateside media reports.

“A towering figure in American politics and a champion for justice, equity, and opportunity, Congressman Rangel dedicated over four decades of his life to public service,” the Rangel family said in a statement announcing his death Monday. “Throughout his career, Congressman Rangel fought tirelessly for affordable housing, urban revitalization, fair tax policies, and equal opportunities for all Americans.”

Rangel, affectionately called “The Lion of Lenox Avenue,” was the last of Harlem’s so-called “Gang of Four” coalition with Basil Paterson, Percy Sutton, Herman Denny Farrell and former Mayor David Dinkins. They were known as the first to break down race and class barriers, cutting paths for others to follow, according to stateside media.

Prior to his election to Congress in 1970, Rangel earned a Purple Heart and a Bronze Star for leading a group of soldiers out of a deadly Chinese army encirclement during the Battle of Konu-ri.

He went on to become the first Black chair of the House’s influential Ways and Means Committee (in 2006), and was influential in the creation of the Upper Manhattan Empowerment Zone Development Corporation that helped change the economic face of Harlem.

“There are many who will attempt to imitate, but the great Charlie Rangel will never be replicated,” House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries said in a statement. “Whether in the United States Army, the federal courtroom, the halls of Congress or the streets of Harlem, Congressman Rangel led a life of public service that is second to none. The prayers of a grateful nation are with his family and the legions who loved this iconic leader. May Charles B. Rangel forever Rest in Power.”

Senate Minority leader Chuck Schumer remembered Rangel as “a great man, a great friend and someone who never stopped fighting for his constituents in Harlem.”

“He was brilliant, bold, funny, fearless, all at once,” Schumer said. “The list of his accomplishments could fill pages, but one thing is certain. He left the world a lot better place than when he entered it.”

Rep. Adriano Espaillat (D-N.Y.), who became New York Congressional District 13’s representative after Rangel retired in 2017, said in a statement posted to social media that “Charlie was an inspiration and embodied the truest form of leadership in public service, steadied in his faith and faithfulness in the American people, and a giant unmatched in his leadership, compassion, and commitment to upholding the values of our nation. I will miss him dearly.”

In 2008, Rangel faced a series of ethics violations alleging he failed to abide by tax laws. He was charged with using public resources and congressional letterhead to seek donations for the Charles B. Rangel Center for Public Service at the City College of New York, soliciting from companies with business before the tax committee he chaired. He also faced charges of not disclosing income and checking accounts, and improperly using rent-subsidized apartments for his campaign committee.

The House Ethics Committee convicted Rangel of 11 counts of violating House rules and the full Congress voted to censure him in 2010. Still, the people of Harlem reelected him to two more terms.

Rangel was pre-deceased by his wife, Alma. He is survived by his son, Steven Rangel, daughter Alicia Rangel Haughton, three grandsons, Howard R. Haughton, Joshua R. Haughton and Charles R. Haughton, the family said.

The Popular Democratic Party minority leader in the Puerto Rico Senate, Luis Javier Hernández Ortiz, mourned the death of Rangel in a statement.

“Rangel was always a great friend of Puerto Rico, as they say, of Puerto Ricans here and there,” Hernández Ortiz said. “He was 94 years old and his entire life was one of service. Our condolences to his family, friends, and associates.”

“He set an example for many, taking on the responsibility of looking out for the most disadvantaged communities, the needy, and the marginalized,” the PDP senator and former Villalba mayor added. “Rangel dedicated his life to working for them. His vision and decades of work benefited many Puerto Ricans in New York. That example remains, and it lights the way for others to come.”