By Mike Madden, Arizona Republic, August 24, 2007

24 Aug 2007 // Succumbing to political and legal pressure stemming from a federal corruption investigation, Rep. Rick Renzi said Thursday that he will not seek re-election next fall.

"I will not be seeking re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 2008," Renzi, R-Ariz., said in a written statement. "I am honored and thankful to serve Arizona's first district and appreciate all that we have accomplished together over the past 6 years."

The announcement means national political parties will focus their energy and money on the 1st District Arizona race in the 2008 elections, in a fierce battle that could help determine control of Congress.

Federal authorities are investigating Renzi's involvement in proposed 2005 Arizona land swaps. The prospect of trading land with the federal government helped raise the value of property that a former Renzi business partner sold to other investors. But the deals fell apart because the copper mining company that sought the swap was uncomfortable about Renzi's ties to the players.

Renzi has maintained throughout he did nothing wrong. But he stepped down from the House Intelligence Committee in April after the FBI raided his family business, seeking paperwork in connection with the investigation. The week after that, he stepped down from two other committees and quit a GOP fundraising program for vulnerable incumbents.

Since the investigation heated up, Renzi's political activities had slowed to a crawl. He had only $20,418 in his campaign account at the end of June and owed more than $450,000, mostly in legal bills.