Disgraced Congressman Charlie Rangel attempted to escape reality by diving into a crowd of adoring lefties at the “One Nation Working Together” rally at the Lincoln Memorial.

The Harlem Democrat is about to stand trial to defend against 13 counts of ethical charges by his colleagues in the House, but you wouldn’t know it if you saw him being treated like a rock star on Saturday.

Rangel sported enormous black sunglasses and delved into the crowds, who cheered “Charlie, Charlie!” A happy-go-lucky Charlie hugged the fans, glad-handed and yelled “I love you!”

Well, Charlie tried to escape reality, but HUMAN EVENTS gave him a reality check.

“That’s not at issue today, Miss,” he responded from behind his big black sunglasses.

“I’m saying, ‘Not today.’ Okay? I’m trying to be as nice and polite as I can be," he said. "And this is an occasion for the country to be together."

“But you do have a pending ethical hearing coming up,” I replied. Rangel turned away, and his burly security guard physically pushed me back.

The liberal cabal at the “One Nation” rally had no interest in hearing about charges that Rangel’s didn’t pay his taxes, cheated on his financial disclosure forms and used his congressional office to raise money for his “Rangel Center.”

A young woman shook hands with Rangel, and yelled “I love you so much!”

I asked her why she loves Rangel so much.

She said, “I think he’s great. Everything he does. He’s just fabulous.”

What about the 13 ethical violations he’s been charged with by the House Ethics Committee?

“I think after the investigation, we’ll see what happens,” she responded, her smile fading.

Actually, he’s already been investigated. He was charged.

“Uh… Well, I…You know… we’ll see what happens,” she stuttered before walking away.

In August, Rangel took control of the U.S. House floor and spent 40 minutes begging and pleading his colleagues to schedule his ethics trial before the midterm elections.

“I am 80 years old. I don't want to die before the hearing. And I think my electorate are entitled to find out who their congressman for 40 years is. Who am I? Am I corrupt? Did I get a nickel?” he said.

“Have the Ethics Committee expedite this. Don't leave me swinging in the wind until November,” begged Rangel.

Since then, the Democrat chairwoman of the House Ethics Committee, Rep. Zoe Lofgren (D.-Calif.) has refused to schedule the trial. Rep. Jo Bonner (R.-Ala.), the ranking Republican on the committee, sent a letter to Lofgren to demand a trial for both Rangel and Rep. Maxine Waters (D-Calif.), who was charged with three ethical violations this summer.


“It is in the best interest of transparency and fairness to the American people... that the House Ethics Committee stop stalling the resolution of the Rangel and Waters matters and complete these public trials prior to the November elections,” wrote Bonner on behalf of the five Republicans on the committee.

You can run, Charlie, but you can’t hide.