Rangel, meanwhile, has attracted criticism in recent weeks for lining his campaign coffers with donations from those on both sides of the contentious rum-tax issue.
Contributions to Rangel from the Virgin Islands totaled more than $167,000 between 1999 and 2008, and more than half of that — $84,800 — was given during the 2007-08 election cycle, just as the islands were finalizing the deal to relocate Diageo’s rum operations.
Since Puerto Ricans found out about the deal, their giving to Rangel also has shot up. Puerto Rico now ranks second only to New York this cycle in places from which Rangel has collected contributions, according to CQMoneyLine and a report in The Washington Times. Donors in Puerto Rico have written $36,600 in checks to Rangel this cycle.
Rangel, who is under investigation by the ethics committee for unrelated charges of financial violations, has denied taking sides in the rum-tax dispute and has not indicated whether he will consider moving Pierluisi’s bill.
He’s not taking sides. At least, not as long as both sides donate to him . . . .