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OK, Congressman Rick Renzi didn't say that, it was Nixon. But I suspect that Congressman Rick Renzi is unhappy because all the other Congressmen and Senators get away with the same stuff and they are not charged with felonies????
Jury finds Rick Renzi guilty of some charges in corruption trial By Dennis Wagner and Mark Evans The Republic | azcentral.com Tue Jun 11, 2013 7:10 PM TUCSON – A federal jury on Tuesday found former Congressman Rick Renzi guilty on 17 of 32 felony charges brought against him, including conspiracy, wire fraud, extortion, racketeering, money laundering and making false statements to insurance regulators. The U.S. District Court jury returned its verdict on Renzi’s 55th birthday after nearly a month of trial. The jury deliberated about two and one-half days. Judge David Bury allowed Renzi to remain free pending sentencing on Aug. 19. Renzi declined comment as he left court Tuesday. Defense co-counsel Kelly Kramer later released a statement saying, “We are pleased that the jury acquitted Mr. Renzi on 15 counts. We are disappointed by every guilty verdict. We will continue to fight these charges, including on appeal." Acting Assistant U.S. Attorney General Mythili Raman released a statement late Tuesday saying Renzi’s “streak of criminal activity was a betrayal of the public trust and abuse of the political process.” Raman said Renzi engaged in “years of misconduct.” James Sandlin, a Renzi co-defendant, friend and former business partner, also was convicted Tuesday of 13 felonies stemming from the same activities. He is expected to be sentenced with Renzi. Renzi, a Republican, served the 1st Congressional District from 2003 to 2009 and held a prestigious seat on the Intelligence Committee when he was indicted by a federal grand jury after a probe by the FBI and the Internal Revenue Service. The case was marked by five years of pretrial litigation, including claims by Renzi’s attorneys that charges should have been thrown out due to FBI misconduct and violation of constitutional protections for members of Congress. The government alleged two conspiracies in its case against Renzi. First, it asserted that Renzi embezzled clients’ money from his insurance brokerage, funneled the cash into his election campaign, and then committed fraud trying to cover up the crimes. Second, it charged that Renzi attempted extortion in connection with plans for a federal land exchange. Beginning in 2004, Resolution Copper Mining sought to arrange a property swap so that it could obtain ore-rich National Forest land near Superior. According to his indictment, Renzi demanded that the company buy a Cochise County alfalfa farm owned by Sandlin and include it in the land-exchange package. When Resolution Copper officials balked, Renzi allegedly made similar demands on another group of real estate speculators who were attempting to orchestrate a federal land swap. Sandlin allegedly used proceeds from that deal to pay off a debt to Renzi. In court, Renzi’s lawyers argued that the insurance transactions with were lawful. They said Renzi pressed for the land exchange as a sound legislative move that would have protected Fort Huachuca from possible closure. They asserted that he was a victim of false assumptions and overzealous federal authorities. Prosecutors said the wire fraud, extortion, racketeering and certain money laundering charges each carry maximum penalties of 20 years in prison. Conspiracy carries a maximum of five years in prison. Making false statements to insurance regulators and certain other money laundering charges carry maximums of 10 years apiece. ---- Rick Renzi Richard George “Rick” Renzi Born: June 11, 1958. Age: 55. Position: Former three-term Republican representing District 1 in the House of Representatives. Years in Congress: 2003-09. Accusation: A federal grand jury indicted Renzi on Feb. 22, 2008, on extortion, racketeering, money-laundering, insurance fraud and conspiracy charges. Prior occupation: Insurance broker, real estate speculator, attorney. Family: Married, 12 children. |