Congressman charged in land deal

[Saguaro]

WASHINGTON - Republican Rep. Rick Renzi has been indicted for extortion, wire fraud, money laundering and other charges related to a land deal in Arizona.

A 26-page federal indictment unsealed in Arizona accuses Renzi and two former business partners of conspiring to promote the sale of land that buyers could swap for property owned by the federal government. The sale netted one of Renzi's former partners $4.5 million.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080222/ap_on_go_co/congressman_indicted;_ylt=AlPi7KFUuM6Z6qV4zS5yZACs 0NUE

[nixon]

Another stand-up Republican.

[patriotsblade]

Snowball says...........

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cJOZp2ZftCw

[patriotsblade]

All things considered I think it's time for a redesign of the GOP logo.

http://i202.photobucket.com/albums/aa70/patriotsblade/gopinmate.jpg

[Yellowdogtexan]

This has not been a good news week for McCain http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/22/renzi-indicted/ Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) “has been indicted for extortion, wire fraud, money laundering and other charges related to a land deal in Arizona,” according to the Associated Press. Renzi and two former business partners are accused “of conspiring to promote the sale of land that buyers could swap for property owned by the federal government.”

Renzi, who is one of CREW’s 22 Most Corrupt Members of Congress, has been under investigation by the FBI since 2006. At the heart of the investigation was a land deal worth more than $4 million that Renzi brokered for his former business partner, James Sandlin:In 2005, mining company Resolution Copper sought to mine for copper in Superior, Arizona. Before mining could commence however, Resolution needed Congress to approve a land swap.

Rep. Renzi agreed to support the land exchange bill if, as part of the swap, Resolution bought a 480 acre alfalfa field in his hometown owned by Mr. Sandlin. When Resolution Copper refused the deal, Rep. Renzi solicited the Petrified Forest Group to purchase the land for $4 million. Rep. Renzi assured the group that he would make sure that the swap got through the Natural Resources Committee.Around the same time, Sandlin made a $200,000 payment to a wine company owned by Renzi. The payment was never noted on Renzi’s 2005 financial disclosure forms for the House.

In April 2007, the FBI raided an insurance business tied to Renzi, which led Renzi to resign from his committee seats and eventually announce that he would not seek another term in office.

Questions have been raised as to whether Paul Charlton, one of the nine U.S. attorneys fired last year, lost his job because of his active investigation of Renzi. Read the full indictment here.

UPDATE: Renzi is member of Sen. John McCain’s (R-AZ) National Leadership Team as well as a co-chair of his Arizona Leadership Team.

UPDATE II TPMmuckraker notes that Renzi is also being indicted on charges unrelated to the land deal, such as a conspiracy to “embezzle and misappropriate client premiums to fund his congressional campaign.”

[Ringo]

But they don't look at Harry Reid do they and his LESS than above the table deals in Nevada!

I think before long the HONEST American will start to see how bad the LEFT Commies want McCain out of the way, as its probably the ONLY way the scumbags can win the White House! If so, I think you might hear a tremendous sound around America, cause by the effect of the Lock & Load sound!!

[Lone Laugher]

Ooooooooooooooooh! Ringo wraps the "he did it too" defense in a nice tidy threat of violence! What a baller!

[jim]

But they don't look at Harry Reid do they and his LESS than above the table deals in Nevada!

I think before long the HONEST American will start to see how bad the LEFT Commies want McCain out of the way, as its probably the ONLY way the scumbags can win the White House! If so, I think you might hear a tremendous sound around America, cause by the effect of the Lock & Load sound!!

If there is a "lock and load" sound - Do you think just a few Republicans are the only ones who have that capability?? Or the nerve???:rooster If so - better think again:devil

[jim]

Ooooooooooooooooh! Ringo wraps the "he did it too" defense in a nice tidy threat of violence! What a baller!


Yeah - the usual...:monkey

[Yellowdogtexan]

Back to the real topic. McCain expects his co-chairman to step down after this indictment. http://firstread.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2008/02/22/692562.aspxOn his weekly blogger conference call, John McCain said that Rep. Rick Renzi (R) would probably step down as co-chair of his Arizona campaign. McCain was unaware of the Arizona congressman's indictment until asked about it this morning after a town hall in Indianapolis, at which point he said that you always think about the family in these circumstances and he would look into Renzi's role in his campaign. An indictment only rated a probably will resign. The republicans have an interesting way of dealing with indictments. Remember, this bozo got one of the US Attorneys fired for investigating him.

[nixon]

Ooooooooooooooooh! Ringo wraps the "he did it too" defense in a nice tidy threat of violence! What a baller!You have to give him credit, he's good.

[Yellowdogtexan]

This is amusing. The GOP is upset that this corrupt congressman is not resigning now. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8713.htmlThen last Friday, federal prosecutors indicted Arizona Rep. Rick Renzi on 35 criminal counts that include conspiracy, fraud, money laundering and official extortion stemming from a land swap with a former business partner. Shortly afterward, Boehner called on the Arizona Republican, who had already announced his plans not to seek reelection, to “seriously consider” stepping down early. But Renzi has since issued a statement that he has no plans to resign, putting increased pressure on GOP leaders to force his ouster.

[issac the dragon]

I don't know which crime I think was worse. The land deal or the firing of a government attorney. That is a pretty serious crime. One is greed, the other is venal.

[Yellowdogtexan]

This is amusing. The indicted republican is a co-chair of McCain's Arizonia campaign and McCain does not care if the man stays involved in the campaign. http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/26/mccain-renzi-doesnt-matter/Later, on a conference call with conservative bloggers, McCain said Renzi “would probably step down as co-chair of his Arizona campaign.” Asked in Ohio today, however, McCain said “it doesn’t matter” if Renzi stays on his campaign or not.....

McCain has been staunchly loyal to his fellow Arizonian. After the FBI investigation into Renzi was first reported in October 2006, McCain vouched for Renzi’s “integrity” in a robo-call to Arizona voters:This is Senator John McCain. I’m calling to urge you to support my friend, Representative Rick Renzi for Congress. Rick has represented the first district of Arizona with tenacity, honesty and integrity beyond reproach.But despite his claim that “it doesn’t matter” if the indicted Renzi remains a part of his campaign, McCain hasn’t hesitated to call for scandal plagued public officials to resign. Just last year, McCain said that both Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) and former Attorney General Alberto Gonzales should step down
Having an indicted congressman in your campaign is no big deal for a republican. If they excluded people under indictment or investigation, then that would greatly limit the pool of supporters.

[issac the dragon]

A third Bush administration.

[Yellowdogtexan]

The House is going to investigate McCain's co-chair of his Arizonia campaign. http://thinkprogress.org/2008/02/28/house-to-launch-investigation-into-renzi/AP reports:
The House ethics committee said Thursday it was beginning an investigation into the conduct of Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz., who was indicted a week ago on conspiracy, extortion and other charges.

The panel said in a statement it had created a four-member subcommittee to determine whether Renzi violated any laws, rules or standards of conduct with respect to any of the matters for which he was indicted. […]

The ethics committee can issue a report that rebukes a member for violating laws or standards of conduct or can recommend that the full House consider expulsion.I wonder if Renzi will resign from the McCain campaign if he is expelled from the House?

[toxic]

Do you guys remember Renzi and Katherine Harris Canoodling in the background on C-Span.
He has 12 kids!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MTAzrEbXZPA

[Yellowdogtexan]

The indicted republican congressman has been forced out of the mccain campaign. http://thinkprogress.org/2008/03/10/renzi-no-longer-part-of-mccain-campaign/Today, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) told reporters that indicted Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) “is no longer taking part in his presidential campaign,” but refused to say whether the congressman had “officially stepped down as a campaign co-chair"

[Capitalist]

WASHINGTON - Republican Rep. Rick Renzi has been indicted for extortion, wire fraud, money laundering and other charges related to a land deal in Arizona.

A 26-page federal indictment unsealed in Arizona accuses Renzi and two former business partners of conspiring to promote the sale of land that buyers could swap for property owned by the federal government. The sale netted one of Renzi's former partners $4.5 million.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080222/ap_on_go_co/congressman_indicted;_ylt=AlPi7KFUuM6Z6qV4zS5yZACs 0NUE

If this is true they need to put this piece of shit under the jail.

[Capitalist]

Another stand-up Republican.

Do I need to litter these pages with links to demcorats already in jail or paroled from jail?

[Capitalist]

This is amusing. The GOP is upset that this corrupt congressman is not resigning now. http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0208/8713.html

So are you calling for Spitzer to resign?

[Capitalist]

This one is quiet with the Spitzer news, isn't it...

[Yellowdogtexan]

Do I need to litter these pages with links to demcorats already in jail or paroled from jail?Go ahead. I can bury you with republicans who are in jail or who have resigned due to the culture of corruption. I have a far longer list to work with given the corruption that is the GOP.

[Yellowdogtexan]

So are you calling for Spitzer to resign?Are you calling on Senator Vitter of LA to resign? His offense was the use of prostitutes just like Spitzer. Both of these people are in a different position compared to a crook and fraud like McCain Co-Chairman of his Arizonia campaign.