Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) is stepping down from the House Intelligence Committee, the second Republican congressman to relinquish committee duties due to corruption investigations in as many days. John Doolittle (R-CA) gave up his seat on the Appropriations Committee after his home was searched by the FBI, as we reported Thursday. Doolittle is implicated in the Abramoff scandal, which involves bribes or campaign donations in exchange for "earmarked" budget items. Renzi is under investigation in an unrelated real estate deal in which he may have used undue influence to benefit a business partner, as Neil A. Lewis of The New York Times reports:
The investigation of Mr. Renzi, a wealthy developer from the Flagstaff area, began before the November elections and involves accusations that he improperly used his influence as a congressman to engineer a land swap benefiting a business associate.
In a statement issued by his office Friday, Mr. Renzi said: "Yesterday, the F.B.I. came to my family's business to obtain documents related to their investigation. I view these actions as the first step in bringing out the truth. Until this matter is resolved, I will take a leave of absence from the House Intelligence Committee."Federal agents raided the office of the Patriot Insurance Agency Inc. in Sonoita, Ariz., on Thursday. The Phoenix Business Journal said state records listed Roberta Renzi, the congressman's wife, as the company's president.
Read it all at the link above. The US Attorney who opened the Renzi probe was one of the eight targeted for dismissal by the Justice Department, so this will undoubtedly add fuel to that fire.
My position on corrupt politicians is simple and consistent: irrespective of party membership, those convicted of corruption in office should be hung, drawn, and quartered, and their heads placed on stakes along the Potomac as a warning to others.
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