The Federal charges against Renzi and a business associate include extortion.
WASHINGTON - Republican Rep. Rick Renzi was charged Friday with extortion, wire fraud, money laundering and other crimes in an Arizona land swap that authorities say helped him collect hundreds of thousands of dollars in payoffs. A 26-page federal indictment unsealed in Tucson accuses Renzi and a former business partner of extortion and conspiring to promote the sale of land that buyers could swap for property owned by the federal government.Almost a year ago I gave Renzi a Knucklehead award for his shady ethics. Now if you disagree with my assertion Renzi is a crook, Jim Addison at Wizbang Politics wrote-Renzi, a three-term member of the House, announced in August that he would not seek re-election. His lawyer said Friday he was not guilty.
"Congressman Renzi did nothing wrong. We will fight these charges until he is vindicated and his family's name is restored," Renzi attorney Kelly Kramer said in an e-mail message to The Associated Press.
The grand jury accused Renzi of using his position as a member of the House Natural Resources Committee to push the land swaps for business partner James W. Sandlin, a real estate investor from Sherman, Texas. The indictment comes after a lengthy federal investigation into the land development and insurance businesses owned by Renzi's family.
Authorities allege Renzi and Sandlin concealed at least $733,000 that the congressman took for helping seal the land deals. They are each charged with 27 counts of wire fraud, extortion and money laundering, and conspiracy connected to a transaction in Cochise County, Ariz.
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.Renzi should step down. He already announced his intention to not run for re-election, but these charges could prove to be a millstone around the neck of any Republican running to replace him. The district leans Republican but isn't beyond the Democrats reach.
Permalink | Send To A Friend | Linking Blogs | Digg this!
Filed under:
Arizona, Congress, Republican, Scandal, States
Comments (4)
Big prison time if he's gui... (Below threshold)1. Posted by Scrapiron | February 22, 2008 7:13 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Big prison time if he's guilty. Save the adjoining cell for Dirty Harry Reid and Botox Peeeloshi. Oh, I forgot, they're democrats and never get indicted for doing the exact same crimes, over and over.
1. Posted by Scrapiron | February 22, 2008 7:13 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 22, 2008 19:13
2. Posted by Scrapiron | February 22, 2008 7:16 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I doubt the millstone idea since Cold Cash Jefferson continues to serve with a wink and nod from the democrats.
2. Posted by Scrapiron | February 22, 2008 7:16 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 22, 2008 19:16
3. Posted by COgirl | February 23, 2008 11:18 AM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
I was thinking the same thing about the similarity to Harry Reid. Where's the outrage over his dirty dealings?
And as far as Cold Cash Jefferson goes, he'll never see any admonishment from Congress because he has a big fat D beside his name and he's a minority.
3. Posted by COgirl | February 23, 2008 11:18 AM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 23, 2008 11:18
4. Posted by bryanD | February 23, 2008 12:12 PM | Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Another intelligence officer comes in from the cold, past history well-scrubbed, vouched for by rightwing muckety-mucks for placement within reach of the money-generating parts of various conservative causes where he proceeds to embezzle funds from the little people for the Greater Good.
A dash of Ralph Reed, a pinch of Abramoff, and a soupcon of Robert Hansen.
I smell Opus Dei.
4. Posted by bryanD | February 23, 2008 12:12 PM |
Score: 0 (0 votes cast)
Posted on February 23, 2008 12:12