Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington - Rick Renzi

Prosecutors challenges Rep. Renzi's use of "speech and debate clause" defense in his criminal trial

crew — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 08:08:37 -0600

The Constitution's "speech and debate" clause is one of the main defenses proferred by laywers for Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) who is facing federal corruption charges including money laundering, conspiracy and wire fraud. The prosecutors in the case have aggressively argued against use of that defense. We agree. It's not a get out of jail free card for members of Congress:

In extensive filings, prosecutors said they are not relying on his legislative acts to prove their case.

They also said that Renzi's lawyers were seeking to expand the breadth of the speech or debate clause beyond a scope that the Supreme Court and appellate courts have granted.

Renzi's defense team has contended that "the speech or debate clause protection is absolute" - that the constitutional clause provides a privilege immunizing the congressman from prosecution concerning virtually any of his functions related to the legislative process.

But in their motion, prosecutors said, "Renzi claims that he is entitled to dismissal of every count of the indictment" on the basis that evidence of legislative acts was introduced in the grand jury, and "that the government 'must necessarily' introduce evidence of legislative acts to support its theory of the case at trial."

However, they said the Supreme Court has applied speech or debate protection only to "legislative acts," and in a situation that "expressly covers actual 'speech or debate in either House.'"

Other legislative activities "must be an integral part of the deliberative and communicative processes" in congressional proceedings concerning proposed legislation, activities "essential to legislating," the prosecutors said.

McCain, Kyl staffers interviewed by FBI about land deal in Renzi case

crew — Wed, 28 May 2008 07:28:36 -0500

According to The Hill, staffers for the Arizona senators were interviewed about a land deal, which figures prominently in the case against Rep. Renzi. Expect a "speech and debate clause" defense from Renzi at some point soon:

Federal agents interviewed staffers for likely Republican presidential nominee Sen. John McCain (Ariz.) as part of their corruption case against Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.).

U.S. Attorney for the District of Arizona Diane J. Humetewa and fellow prosecutors disclosed the interviews with aides for McCain and fellow Arizona Republican Sen. Jon Kyl in a written response to Renzi’s attorneys, who asked for the contents of the interview to help prepare for Renzi’s upcoming trial, which is scheduled for October.

The aides were interviewed about land exchanges, according to an April letter from Humetewa filed with the U.S. District Court of Arizona late last week. The letter did not indicate when the interviews occurred.

A federal land swap critical to developing a $3 billion copper mine southeast of Phoenix is at the heart of the case against Renzi, who is facing 35 public corruption charges, including conspiracy, money-laundering, extortion and insurance fraud. Renzi is retiring at the end of this session.

Two days in a row: We're shocked by the House Ethics Committee's decision to defer action on Rep. Renzi

crew — Thu, 22 May 2008 17:05:30 -0500

For CREW’s reaction to today’s Ethics Committee announcement to defer the investigation into Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ), please see CREW’s statement regarding yesterday’s announcement by the Ethics Committee on its deferral of its investigation into Rep. Vito Fossella (R-NY). It's posted below. Please just substitute relevant Renzi information into statement.

Bottom line: We're shocked. Given the track record of the House Ethics Committee, we shouldn't be. But, we are.

Rep. Renzi's trial delayed

crew — Tue, 8 Apr 2008 15:31:14 -0500

Last month, we reported that Rep. Renzi was trying to delay the start of his trial for a variety of corruption-related charges.

Today, we learned the start of the trial has, in fact, been delayed -- unclear why:

A federal court has agreed to push back the trial of Rep. Rick Renzi (Ariz.) until Oct. 14, according to court documents.

The lawmaker’s lawyers had asked for a delay of the trial, which was scheduled to begin at the end of this month.

Rep. Renzi wants trial delayed. Intends to raise Speech and Debate clause defense

crew — Thu, 27 Mar 2008 14:16:03 -0500

Rep. Rick Renzi wants a delay in the start of his trial. Based on this article in CQPolitics, it sounds like his lawyers intend to use the Constitution's Speech and Debate Clause as a defense:

Embattled Rep. Rick Renzi , R-Ariz., has asked a federal judge in Arizona to delay his scheduled April 29 trial on conspiracy, fraud, extortion and money laundering charges stemming from a land-swap deal.

Prosecutors will not oppose the Arizona lawmaker’s bid to have his trial deemed a “complex case,” which would allow more time to sort out motions, discovery and other pre-trial issues.

Renzi’s lawyers also said that because he is a sitting congressman who faces allegations related to his legislative activities, they would raise the issue of legislative privilege afforded by the Constitution’s Speech or Debate clause.

Renzi pleaded not guilty March 4 to a 35-count indictment — handed down Feb. 21 — that charges he conspired with one former business partner in a land-swap scheme and with another associate to commit insurance fraud.

Renzi, 49, maintains he is innocent of any wrongdoing.

New charge against Rep. Rick Renzi: He "defrauded" pro-life groups to pay for his first campaign for Congress

crew — Tue, 11 Mar 2008 10:10:04 -0500

CREW named Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) one of the most corrupt members of Congress in our 2007 edition of Beyond DeLay. Renzi was indicted on February 22, 2008 on a variety of corruption-related counts. The primary focus has been on Renzi's suspect land deal. But, there's more:

Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz., allegedly defrauded dozens of pro-life organizations for hundreds of thousands of dollars to fund his first congressional bid, according to an analysis of the recent indictment against him, a state insurance claim and an interview with an insurance lawyer involved in the case.

When federal prosecutors indicted Renzi, 49, on 35 felony counts two weeks ago, many reports focused on alleged crimes stemming from a complicated series of land swaps the congressman facilitated.

But the indictment also accuses Renzi, who ran an insurance firm before coming to Capitol Hill, of misappropriating hundreds of thousands of dollars in insurance premiums and using the money to fund his congressional campaign.

Organizations such as Arizona Right-to-Life, the Hope Crisis Pregnancy Center and the Wickenburg Pregnancy Resource Center paid insurance premiums to Renzi's insurance firm, Renzi & Company, but received notices their insurance coverage was going to be cancelled for nonpayment, according to a 2003 complaint filed with the State of Arizona. The complaint was first reported by the Phoenix New Times.

According to the indictment, Renzi funneled those payments -- totaling more than $400,000 -- through various accounts and finally to his campaign.

Rep. Cole stands by Rep. Renzi

crew — Mon, 3 Mar 2008 13:33:47 -0600

Rep. Rick Renzi has found a defender in the House:

[Rep. Tom] Cole (R-Okla.), a classmate of Renzi’s who has worked closely with him on Native American issues, appeared to separate himself from Boehner’s sentiment when asked about it at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast.

Cole and Boehner have tangled over Cole’s leadership at the NRCC. Cole also expressed confidence that the GOP can hold the seat.

“I think he’s got every right to do what he thinks,” Cole said. “I guess I believe in the American legal system. You’re allowed to go argue your case. I don’t tell people that they ought to resign, and I wouldn’t share that kind of discussion, honestly, in a public venue anyway.

“At the end of the day, Rick says he’s innocent. Rick’s going to argue that case. He has the right to do that,” Cole said.

"The House Ethics Committee has demonstrated its irrelevance once again"

rusty — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 16:57:04 -0600

Melanie Sloan released the following statement today following the House Ethics Committee's announcement that it would begin an investigation into the activities of Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) who was indicted last week:

The House Ethics Committee has demonstrated its irrelevance once again by announcing an investigation of a member of Congress – Rick Renzi (R-AZ) already indicted by the Department of Justice. The trick would be for the Ethics Committee to spearhead an investigation of a member alleged to have engaged in misconduct before the Justice Department gets involved. Mr. Renzi undoubtedly will have retired – perhaps to a federal penitentiary – before the Ethics Committee ever takes any action against him. The current stalemate on ethics reform simply highlights that despite all the rhetoric, members still are not serious about taking on their unethical colleagues.

Renzi won't resign: "I am Innocent"

crew — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 20:57:03 -0600

Think Progress has the details:

Contrary to the desires of House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) released a statement late Monday vowing not to resign his House seat. “I will not resign and take on the cloak of guilt because I am innocent,” Renzi said. He was indicted last week on 35 counts of extortion, money laundering and conspiracy relating to his efforts to get the federal government to buy land from his business partner.

Arizona Repbulic to Rep. Renzi: Leave

crew — Mon, 25 Feb 2008 13:01:46 -0600

Rep. Rick Renzi is under enormous pressure to give up his House seat in the wake of his indictment last week. The Minority Leader, John Boehner, thinks he should. And, the Arizona Republic does too:

Since these allegations began surfacing in early 2007, Renzi has virtually dropped out of sight, resigning from his committee assignments and keeping his head low. He faces up to 20 years in prison on the most serious counts and fines of $250,000 if convicted.

For many years, Rick Renzi has worked under a cloud of suspicion. Today that cloud is joined by the gale force of a federal indictment.

No one could expect to function normally under such conditions. Renzi needs to attend to his personal crisis and leave the business of the United States government to others. He should resign immediately.