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Rep. Rangel Causes Stir In Courtroom, Gets Reprimanded By Judge

Congressman Chastised For Constantly Interrupting Hearing

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(credit: Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images)

(credit: Karen Bleier/AFP/Getty Images)

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NEW YORK (CBSNewYork)Congressman Charles Rangel caused a stir in court Friday while trying to lend his support for bail of Afrika Owes.

Owes, 17, had been a student at the prestigious Deerfield Academy in Massachusetts. Prosecutors say she was also a member of a drug gang that terrorized 137th Street in Harlem.

Owes was one of fourteen suspected  “137th Street Crew” gang members arrested last month. Prosecutors said the gang used shootings, beatings and robberies to protect their turf and gain street status on a stretch of West 137th Street. The gang allegedly openly dealt crack in apartment lobbies, near Harlem Hospital and near the Abyssinian Baptist Church.

Congressman Charles Rangel argues for Owes getting bail to Juliet Papa of 1010 WINS


The judge refused to release Owes on her own recognizance, saying tapes from Rikers Island have her involved in running guns and getting orders to “shoot for the head.”

The Abyssinian Baptist Church, which is located on 137th street, offered to post bond but the judge said it wasn’t clear if that was legally allowed.

WCBS 880′s Irene Cornell describes Rangel’s courtroom behavior


WCBS 880′s Irene Cornell reports Rangel caused a stir in the courtroom, repeatedly standing up and interrupting the judge.

A court officer told Rangel three different times to sit down. When he stood up again, Judge Edward McLaughlin had apparently had enough.

“I see someone standing who should not be standing, unless you have a bad back like I do,” McLaughlin said. Rangel sat down.

Rangel says Owes was a straight-A student and should be given a chance to straighten herself out.

“All the discussions on the question of public policy boils down to a 17-year-old arrested student remaining in jail,” Rangel said.

Owes is due back in court March 22.

What do you think of Rangel’s courtroom behavior? Should Afrika Owes be granted bail? Sound off in our comments section.

View Comments
  • fish-head rahm

    charlie must owe somebody in the gang some serious favors!

  • John C

    Rangle is a disgrace to his race, making all honorable and respectable black peopole look like crooks.

    • Ernaldo T

      They don’t need his help. He is a disgrace to his species….

    • theVictorian

      Rangle is typical of his race!

  • Bill Canada

    Charlie need to learn to sit and shut up. He thinks he is immune from the same laws and courtroom deportment that regular citizens have to comply with. He is pompous arrogant. reticle orifice. The kid in question should stay in jail.

  • T Clar

    Gosh what a down to earth all American story. Here we have that honest ‘ole
    Charlie Rangel just trying to look after his poor people and the Judge beats up
    on all of the above. Why we also have that wonderful waif Africa Owes with
    her all American name and her aerly efforts at Capitalism just she and her poor
    company just doing their street retailing to earn a little pin money for school. Boy
    what has it come to when such upstanding citizens cannot get a fair hearing in
    court? And you really have to ask what is wrong with this country? Shame!!

  • John

    Africa owes alright…owes a lot me thinkgs…

  • Ed McGuire

    Chuck needs to be hung by his toes till he pay’s all taxes he swindled outta the American people!

  • cbinflux

    Charlie Rangel, what a great character witness!
    //

  • rafael

    He should be out of government. He is an embarrasment to the USA

  • Jim M

    If she can “straighten herself out”, she might grow up to be an honest hard working Congressperson like Charlie.
    Sounds like the girl is either a very smart criminal or that her associates offered to cap a few teachers if she didn’t get the grades.

  • martin r

    rangel should pay more attention to his own crimes he lucky they didnt put him in jail for tax evasion and other unsavory actions aslap on the wrist was nothing does he think she s innocent also ruunning drugs guns a boyfriend in jail let her cool her little behind in jail for a year or two with him (rangel)

  • Bob A

    Must be a racist judge. Negroes can say and do anything they want. Just ask Obama’s attorney general. Its only white people who must act properly.

    • cbinflux

      Eric Holder’s Motto:
      WHITS ONLY!

  • Rory Calhoun

    this would make a good law and order flick….right chuck……

  • paul

    Proud to be a racist

    • Joe Greeson

      Right on! White makes right!

    • Colonel Sanders

      This is true. 99% are trash, but once in a while,there is a Condoleeza Rice.

  • Cogiito

    I thought he was in jail. Oh, I forgot. It is perfectly all right for members of govenrment not to pay taxes. The law, like most all of them, apply only to the citizens.

  • Jeffrey

    He is so worthless. If anyone was confused about his values, you would THINK this might help them better understand. Straight A student, Yea.. “my little angel would never do anything wrong”

  • Eric

    He should be out of government. He is an embarrasment to the USA.

    • Eric Jahnke

      Figures this piece of human waste would be defending another piece of human waste.

      Liberals … utter trash, all of them.

      • DoubleKingChiliCheeseHairstyle

        Charlie Rangel has made racism cool.

  • Joey Bagadonuts

    Something is VERY fishy here. I wonder if Rangel has been getting a regular envelope from the 137th St. Crew?

    I’d suggest looking at his tax returns…but we all know how futile THAT would be.

  • MDWhite

    The rules for the rest of us just don’t apply, do they Charlie?

    By the way, tax time is fast approaching. Perhaps, instead of proving to the world what an enormous, pompous ass you are in court, you should be home working on your 1040. Only, don’t forget all those Caribbean real estate holdings this time.

  • gordon

    Goes to show – people get the Government they deserve! His people just voted for him over somebody who sounded a lot more honest – not hard – so they got this dog barking in their yard for only God knows how long !

  • Herbie Original Situation Raskin

    Hey Charlie, can you say… Tawana Brawly?
    I am sure there are plenty of murderous felons out there that are/were good students. But, let me also suggest the accused girl’s grades could be have been gotten by cheating, teachers being threatened, or paid-off for those grades! It doesn’t seem too far fetched to me!

  • Apocolypse_now

    What seems be the problem here. Its not contempt of court because its Charlie, Dont you all know Charlie is not held to the same legal standards as average non-DNC surfs. He can omit and evade and elude on his 1040 too. Tolorance for me, But not for thee.

  • pdav

    rangel is an idiot.

  • Bill Mcneal

    mr rangel your jus t so ucky we don’t have an active STAR CHAMBER !!!!!!!!!!Or do we????????your not only a discreas to the congress but also the all the men that lost there live’s in the koren war that you were in (I bet a cook)Your making this u s a I love nothing more then a 2nd. class country all i the name of c.rangel , I hope your not around that much longerto help continue the distruction of AMERICA!!you no good S O B

  • p3orion

    It doesn’t matter what her grades are, Charlie. Did you check the report cards of the victims?

    Straight-A student: let her out, of course.
    Straight-A student who’s also a drug-dealing gang-banger: leave her butt in jail!

  • http://skullbuster00.wordpress.com skullbuster00

    Wonder which is his mistress, the 17 yr. old or her mother.

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