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January 05, 2009

Insurance Company Lobbied Lawmaker Who Sought a Charitable Gift

Less than a month after Rep. Charles B. Rangel, Democrat of New York, met with officials of the American International Group to request a donation to a school of public service that City College of New York plans to build in his honor, the insurance company sought out the congressman for help securing a tax cut, reports The New York Times.

The company never made a gift to the college, but Mr. Rangel’s interaction with A.I.G seems to contradict public statements he has made concerning questions about his fund-raising for the college. “I can’t think of one piece of legislation that impacts them, and there has never been a time that they’ve raised any legislation to me,” The Washington Post quoted Mr. Rangel as saying in July.

Furthermore, in Mr. Rangel’s submission to the House ethics committee concerning his use of Congressional stationery in soliciting money for the school, he wrote, “So far as I am aware, none of those whom I wrote had any pending requests into my office, lobbied me regarding any legislation before my committee, or asked me for assistance on legislation in which they had a special interest.”

Mr. Rangel allowed the A.I.G. measure into the bill, but his aides say he had made up his mind about the provision before the company approached him.

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