The Hill News

Most Democrats on Thursday voted to punish Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-N.Y.) less harshly on ethics charges.

A majority of Democrats in the House voted to amend the censure resolution against Rangel to become a formal reprimand instead â€" a less severe punishment in House rules.

During the vote, 143 Democrats chose to lessen the punishment, while 105 favored censure for Rangel.

Among Democratic leaders, House Education and Labor Committee Chairman George Miller (D-Calif.) voted for censure, while Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and Rep. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) voted for reprimand.

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) watched the vote but did not participate or actively whip votes.

The overall effort to replace the censure with reprimand failed after enough Democrats voted with virtually all Republicans to keep the censure resolution intact. 

Russell Berman contributed.