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NEW YORK (CBS) ― The House Ethics Committee is expanding its investigation into embattled New York Congressman Charlie Rangel.

Rangel's sudden recollection this summer of at least $500,000 in cash assets and tens of thousands of dollars of investment income has gotten him into more hot water. The House Ethics Committee is now going to investigate those "memory lapses" as part of a probe that has already lasted 16 months.

Just three days ago, Rangel was stonewalling reporters asking questions about his murky finances, telling the media, "I would hate to see anyone attempt to mar this with questions not directly related to this exciting event."

CBS 2 Political Reporter Marcia Kramer has tried repeatedly to get him to talk. Well now the House ethics committee is going to try its luck. It's expanding its probe to include amendments to his financial disclosure statements that he filed in August – amendments where he suddenly discovered the half million in cash assets and other investment income.

The revelation that the ethics investigation would be expanding quickly stamps out any sense of victory Rangel and fellow Democrats may have felt after shooting down the GOP's call for Rangel's resignation from a powerful tax committee.

House Democrats and Republicans battled it out Wednesday over whether to remove the embattled Congressman from his post as chairman of the tax-writing House Ways and Means Committee.

Democrats stopped that motion cold, but it may be hard for Rangel to get out from under the latest ethics probe. The committee dropped a bombshell – it has so far issued 150 subpoenas, interviewed 34 witnesses, and analyzed 12,000 pages of documents relating to Rangel's affairs.

In a statement, the committee wrote:

"The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct voted unanimously on October 8, 2009 to expand the jurisdiction of the investigative subcommittee's inquiry regarding the Matter of Representative Charles B. Rangel to determine if Rep. Rangel violated the Coe of Official Conduct or any law, rule, regulation, or other standard of conduct applicable to his conduct in the performance of his duties or the discharge of his responsibilities with respect to all Financial Disclosure Statements and all amendments filed in calendar year 2009 by or on behalf of Representative Charles B. Rangel pursuant to Title I of the Ethics in Government Act.

"The investigative subcommittee has collaborated in a bipartisan manner in the performance of its duties and obligations. To that end, the investigative subcommittee to date has: authorized the issuance of close to 150 subpoenas; interviewed approximately 34 witnesses resulting in over 2,100 pages of transcripts; reviewed and analyzed over 12,000 pages of documents; and held over 30 investigative subcommittee meetings."

Rangel is the fourth most senior member of the House, so it must have been acutely embarrassing to have all his dirty laundry aired before Congress Wednesday. Allegation after allegation took a full 17 minutes to read, and that was just the first time.

"The man who is in charge of writing the nation's tax laws doesn't pay his federal income or property taxes," said Rep. John Carter, R-Texas.

Rangel wasn't on the floor of the House on Wednesday afternoon for the resolution to dump him while his multiple ethics problems are probed. He was hiding out in the Ways and Means committee room, but his ears had to be ringing.

"He has such a poor grasp of his own finances that he neglects to list all of his assets in a disclosure form intended to keep members of Congress accountable and honest. We can hear the defense of the next tax deadbeat called into court. If Charlie Rangel doesn't have to pay his taxes, why should I?" Carter said.

Later, Congressman Rangel issued a statement through a spokesman claiming the resolution was an attempt to circumvent House rules.

"Let's look at the resolution for what it really is," said the spokesman, "a highly partisan effort designed to undermine the important work in Congress on health care reform."

New York Gov. David Paterson agreed.

"It's a headline based on someone who is having problems," Paterson said.

The popularity-challenged governor was asked if he'd be interested in Rangel's seat if the congressman resigns or chooses not to run.

"You must be kidding," was his response.

Afterwards Congressman Carter charged that Democrats had employed a double standard, saying its okay for Rangel to avoid paying taxes while regular Americans face massive penalties and interest charges for the same infractions.

The ethics committee said confidentiality rules prohibit it from disclosing the exact nature of the information it has already gathered.

However, it's clear that the congressman will have some explaining to do. Rangel's office did not respond to a request for comment.

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