CHARLES RANGEL UPDATE: Welch gives back $20K from Rangel. “Rep. Peter Welch (Vt.), a new Democratic member of the House ethics committee, gave back nearly $20,000 in donations he received from Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.), who is under investigation by the panel for an array of ethics charges. . . . Bob Rogan, Welch’s chief of staff, said his boss decided to return the money to avoid any appearance of impropriety when Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) named him to the panel, along with four other new Democratic members of the ethics committee. The check was sent Monday.”

But it’s not keeping the money that determines if there’s a too-close relationship. It’s getting the money in the first place. Jeez, guys, read the book.