GOP in a tangle with Stender over Rangel

Republican State Committee Chairman Tom Wilson today joined the GOP chorus demanding that Assemblywoman Linda Stender (D-Fanwood) return contributions from U.S. Rep. Charlie Rangel (D-Harlem) following publication of a New York Times story this week detailing sweetheart deals the congressman received on four Harlem apartments.

"Linda Stender has filled her campaign coffers with over $20,000 in contributions from Charlie Rangel and plans to accept even more as a recipient of his annual birthday fund-raiser at New York’s swank Tavern on the Green restaurant scheduled for August 6th," Wilson said.

"Stender likes to tell everyone how she's not a typical politician and that she will stand up to Washington corruption but unless she returns the $21,000 from Rangel and his political action committee that's fueling her campaign and remove her name for his up coming fund-raiser, she just proves that she is another typical double-talking politician that's incapable of changing Washington," added the GOP chairman.

Following yesterday’s initial National Republican Congressional Committee throw-down to the Stender campaign and Wilson’s back-up condemnation, Stender’s opponent, state Sen. Leonard Lance (R-Hunterdon) also chastised the Democrat.

"We agree with the chairman that after the New York Times report, Linda Stender should cancel her appearance at the upcoming event and give back the money," said Lance spokeswoman Amanda Woloshen.

Rangel, chair of the powerful House Ways and Means Committee, is scheduled to have a press conference today to address the New York Times story.

"We’re waiting to see what comes out of the press conference," said Stender spokeswoman Abby Curran.