including neighborhoods outside of the borough of Manhattan. Towns delayed the investigation into Countrywide Financial's VIP loan program when he was the House oversight panel's chairman by refusing to issue a subpoena for Bank of America records. After The Wall Street Journal reported that public loan documents indicated Towns had received two mortgages from the VIP program, he issued the subpoena and his office denied wrongdoing. In December 2010, he announced that he would not seek the position of Ranking Minority Member of the Oversight Committee in the next Congress, even though his seniority and service as Chair would typically result in him filling this post. Towns reportedly withdrew due to lack of support from Nancy Pelosi, who reportedly feared Towns would not be a sufficiently aggressive leader in an anticipated struggle with incoming committee chair Darrell Issa (R-CA). Towns's successor is Elijah Cummings, who defeated Carolyn Maloney in a vote of the House Democratic Caucus. On April 16, 2012, Towns announced his retirement. His district had been renumbered as the 8th district in redistricting and had a significant increase of white voters, though it still had a large black majority. Committee assignments Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade Subcommittee on Communications and Technology Subcommittee on Health Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Government Organization, Efficiency and Financial Management (Ranking Member) Caucus memberships Congressional Black Caucus House Democratic Caucus Congressional COPD Caucus International Conservation Caucus Congressional Arts Caucus Personal life Towns is married to the former Gwendolyn Forbes and they reside in the Cypress Hills section of Brooklyn. They have two children, Darryl (who had served in the New York State Assembly but vacated his seat to become commissioner and chief executive of New York State Homes and Community Renewal agency when appointed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo) and Deidra, who ran in special election to replace her brother, on a self-created ticket, Community First. He is a distant cousin of White House correspondent April Ryan. See also List of African-American United States representatives References External links U.S. Representative Edolphus Towns official U.S. House website Re-Elect Congressman Ed Towns official campaign website Profile at |- |- |- |- 1934 births 21st-century American politicians Adelphi University alumni African-American members of the United States House of Representatives African-American United States Army personnel African-American people in New York (state) politics Baptists from New York (state) Baptists from