NEW YORK, NY July 18, 2008 —Congressman Charles Rangel defended his fund-raising efforts for a new academic center at City College that will bear his name. And he urged the House Ethics Committee to investigate whether he's done anything wrong, for two reasons.

RANGEL: One is to make it clear to every member what the appropriate behavior is in writing to not for profits to encourage them to support other not for profits. And two, to whoop the Washington Post.

REPORTER: The Washington Post reported that Rangel wrote fund-raising letters on Congressional stationary to people who have business before his Ways and Means Committee. Rangel says he did nothing wrong and reached out to them in their philanthropic roles in nonprofits and foundations.

The House Republican leader John Boehner and a good government group are also calling for an investigation.