On Capitol Hill, Democratic Congress member Charles Rangel of New York has announced he’s taking a leave of absence from his post as chair of the House Ways and Means Committee. The move comes days after the House Ethics Committee faulted Rangel for accepting corporate-sponsored trips to the Caribbean. On Wednesday, Rangel said he was temporarily stepping aside to avoid becoming a liability amidst the healthcare reform push and ahead of the November mid-term elections.

Rep. Charles Rangel: “In order to avoid my colleagues having to defend me during their elections, I have this morning sent a letter to Speaker Pelosi asking her to grant me a leave of absence until such time as the Ethics Committee completes its work.”