Republicans accuse Democratic ethics chairwoman of stalling Rangel and Waters trials

Dana Bash
CNN Senior Congressional Correspondent

Washington (CNN) – In a highly unusual move, every Republican member of the House ethics committee issued a statement Tuesday blasting the Democratic chairwoman for "stalling" on making a decision on whether to hold trials for New York Democratic Rep. Charlie Rangel and California Democratic Rep. Maxine Waters before November's election.

"Members of the Committee have repeatedly expressed their willingness and desire to move forward with public trials of these matters and have repeatedly made themselves available to the Chairwoman for October settings. In past Congresses, Committee Members have returned to Washington during a recess in an effort to conclude pressing Ethics matters," said the statement, signed by ranking Republican Jo Bonner and the four other GOP lawmakers on the committee.

The committee – officially the House Committee on Standards of Official Conduct – has investigated Rangel on allegations of multiple ethics violations, including failure to report income and financial assets, and using his influence to solicit donations for a policy center bearing his name.

Waters is accused of helping a bank in which her husband owned stock.

Both Rangel and Waters have called on the committee to hold their trails before November.

Full story on the CNN Political Ticker