Renzi Won’t Run Again; But Uses Public Funds to Defend Himself
Republican Rick Renzi today announced that he will not run for re-election as he prepares himself for an expected federal corruption indictment. He has already been forced to give up all of his congressional committee assignments and many have expected him resign from congress.
However, it appears that Renzi wants to continue serving in the U.S. Congress as long as possible so that he can use public monies budgeted for his office expenses to pay lawyers assisting with his possible defense against criminal corruption charges.
The indictment could come at any time, perhaps within the next thirty days or so. So far, the Republican Party has not called for his resignation. Arizona political observers expect that Renzi may reach a point (trial commencement) that could force his resignation. If that point is reached before next April, then Arizona’s first congressional district would have a series of special elections to fill the seat. If Renzi holds on past next April, then the seat could be vacant at the time of next fall’s elections.
In any case Fox News, (Republican’s favorite place to announce bad news) is carrying the breaking story of Renzi’s continued troubles. Fox News, Associated Press, August 23, 2007
WASHINGTON — Three-term Rep. Rick Renzi, an Arizona Republican facing a federal inquiry into his family’s insurance business, has told colleagues he will not seek re-election next year, GOP officials said Thursday. {Fox News fails to mention that the expected indictment will name Rick Renzi, not his insurance business.}
Renzi becomes the fourth GOP House member in recent days to announce retirement plans, giving Democrats hopes of possibly picking up seats next year that otherwise would not be in play. However, leaders of both parties viewed Renzi as seriously damaged politically by the allegations against him, and several Republicans had let it be known they hoped he would step down.
Renzi gave up his House Intelligence Committee seat in April after FBI agents raided his wife’s insurance business. {Fox News fails to mention that all other committee assignments were canceled days later than the April date. At that same time, he was forced to quit the official Republican Party committee which raises money for Republican Congressmen.}
Renzi paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in back taxes while settling charges that his businesses improperly paid for his first congressional campaign. He also faces an inquiry into whether he used his House seat to help a former business partner make land swaps.
Renzi had been shadowed by ethical questions for several years but held onto his seat, winning 58 percent of the vote last November. Click here to read the full story.
Three Democrats have announced their candidacies for Arizona’s first congressional district. The three announced candidates are Ann Kirkpatrick, an Arizona State Senator from Flagstaff, Mary Kim Titla, a television journalist and Howard Shanker, an environmental lawyer also from Flagstaff.