The Hill News

Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) made his first public appearance in his home district today since the House voted overwhelmingly Thursday to censure the longtime congressman for numerous ethics violations. 

Rangel, who was surrounded by supporters and local elected officials at Harlem Hospital Saturday, received a warm welcome and once again appeared defiant, slamming the media and telling the crowd censure was too harsh a punishment.  

"I didn't go to bed with any kids. I didn't curse out the speaker. I didn't start a revolution against the United States of America," he said, according to NY1. "I did not self deal. I did not take any money."

Rangel's House colleagues voted overwhelmingly for censure Thursday 333-79. Short of ex! pulsion, it's the harshest punishment the body can exact on a member. 

Rangel and his allies launched a last ditch effort to downgrade the punishment to a reprimand, but that vote failed on the House floor. 

The 20-term congressman vowed that despite the censure he will continue to exert his influence in the House and fight for his district. “Watch my steam, watch my fire," Rangel said. 

He also said he no longer intends to answer questions or talk about the sanction at all after this weekend. 

"This weekend will be the last time that I intend to refer to this matter in any way," Rangel said.