Arizona Congressman On The Ropes

Rep. Rick Renzi Under Pressure To Resign In Wake Of FBI Raid On Family Business

(CBS/AP)  Republicans and Democrats are marshaling potential candidates to run for Rep. Rick Renzi's congressional seat in case the Arizona Republican bows to pressure to resign in the wake of an FBI raid last week on his family business.

Renzi has denied all wrongdoing and has said he will serve out his term. State Republicans also say they support him.

But Republican Party operatives already are floating the names of potential candidates for his seat, including former state Senate President Ken Bennett, a sign that they are preparing in case Renzi decides to step aside.

The Phoenix Business Journal, citing unidentified sources, reported that Renzi might resign as soon as Friday.

Members of both parties are contemplating a special election to fill Renzi's seat if he resigns mid-term.

"It clearly concerns us that as this investigation goes where it may head to," Arizona Republican Party Chairman Randy Pullen said. "We're watching it very carefully. I feel for Rick and his family — tough times for him."

"What's important here is to see how House Republican leadership is handling the situation," Pullen added. "They're ... clearly thinking ahead. Any sense of impropriety is not good."

Law enforcement officials confirmed in October that they were scrutinizing a land deal that benefited a Renzi friend and business associate who was also a campaign donor. Last week, the FBI raided a Sonoita, Ariz., insurance business owned by Renzi's wife, Roberta.

Renzi temporarily stepped down from the House Intelligence Committee the day of the raid. Tuesday, he took a leave of absence from the House Financial Services and Natural Resources committees.

He also withdrew from a House Republican fundraising campaign, which raises money for incumbents in vulnerable seats.

Renzi insisted this week that he has been "the subject of leaked stories, conjecture and false attacks."

In an e-mailed statement to The Associated Press late Wednesday, he added: "I am honored to have recently been re-elected, and I'm looking forward to continuing to serve the people of the 1st District for the next two years."

But by stepping off his committees and taking himself out of the party's fundraising program, he is effectively cut off from key tools congressmen use to raise money and pass legislation.

The investigation also is flaring up as Republicans are trying to recover from scandals that contributed to losses in 2006 and cost them control of Congress.

House Minority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, has made it clear that all ethically challenged Republicans will face severe consequences.

If Renzi were to step aside before his term ends, it would likely trigger a special election to fill his seat.

Asked whether he was in contact with potential candidates to replace Renzi, Pullen said names were being circulated, but he hadn't had any discussions with them.

Besides Bennett, state Sen. Tom O'Halleran and state Rep. Bill Konopnicki have been named as possible Republican candidates.

On the Democratic side, state Rep. Ann Kirkpatrick and unsuccessful 2006 U.S. Senate candidate Jim Pederson are among 10 names being floated as potential contenders. Kirkpatrick has already formed an exploratory committee to consider a race.

"We had considered looking at this race before any of this unfolded," Kirkpatrick said. "It's just for the purpose of testing the waters. That's all we're doing."

Renzi represents a vast, rural district, narrowly divided between parties. Republicans have prevailed in recent elections and likely would have the advantage in the next election, said Fred Solop, a political scientist at Northern Arizona University.

But Amy Walter, an analyst for the Cook Political Report, said the GOP probably would prefer to avoid a special election because they are expensive and often volatile. That would make it even harder to hold the seat for the Republicans, still reeling from the 2006 election.

"This is not a great time to have a special election in a swing district like this one," Walter said.

It's also possible that both parties could end up with multiple candidates, meaning they would have to hold potentially contentious primary elections.

Stan Barnes, a Republican political consultant and a former state lawmaker, said the lure of an open seat is strong.

"If all of the sudden a congressman disappears and there's a vacancy, that political vacuum created by a vacancy — a surprise vacancy — is so strong that it will awaken all these ambitions all at the same time," he said.

[king77shaw]

the Republican Party = the Mafia ....

[jfebiala]

With the Democrats in power, it is a matter of time when all of their thugs will be exposed from the wood work. In Illinois we had Dan Rostenkowski and Mel Reynolds (1994). Rostenkowski got busted for mail fraud. Reynolds gets caught with his pants down for 12 counts of sexual assault on a 16-year old girl, soliciting child porn, obstruction of justice, bank fraud, and lying to SEC. Clinton gave both commutations at the end of his term.

[infidel_us]

Clinton gave both commutations at the end of his term.
Posted by jfebiala at 11:16 AM : Apr 27, 2007

Maybe Hillary will carry on the tradition with William (Cold Cash) Jefferson, D-LA! :)

[huskerarmy]

With the Democrats in power, it is a matter of time when all of their thugs will be exposed. In Illinois we had Dan Rostenkowski and Mel Reynolds (1994). Posted by jfebiala
The Dems are the party of corruption? You cannot be serious. The number of GOPer indictments in the past year alone could staff an army. And you drag this example out from 1994? Good grief man!

[frankly6]

I've lost count of how many Republicans have had to step down over corruption. Corruption and incompetence is the legacy of Republican majority rule. Absolute power corrupts absolutely.

[jairod]

No one is immune, nor is and partry innocent of corruption within their ranks. My hope is that there be no impediment to outing these crooks. They have violated the public trust, are caught, and now stand in the light and bold facedly lie through their teeth and protest their innocence. If it is not too late, maybe the US AG and Bush and the rest of those that have the public trust (that is, those that are still in power) see the value of diligent investigation (including questioning party stawlarts) to root out the crooks. The USDA, regardless of his politics, has the obligation tho carry these matters forward on our behalf. This is the message that needs to get to those in Congress, this message from us, the voters. Not because of just this one crook, but because there are others that think they are clever enough to get away with steeling from all of us. If they use their office inapropriately, it is stealing from us in one way or another.

[redrose54]

Shame Renzi doesn't look like he's going to resign; he and his like just bring politics and politicians into disrepute and threaten the future of democracy.

As was said to British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain in 1940, "Go now, in the name of God, go now"!

[firststate]

Republican corruption and scandal, those words seem to appear together with some regularity. During the time Congress was rubber stamping whatever the moron wanted and they didn't waste time on oversight, it meant they had lots of extra time to cook up various schemes to increase their profits from their position. At least this guy's not as bad as Cunningham, who posted his bribery rates based upon the value of the government contract being sought on the desk in his Congressional office.

[kansas1946]

Hmmm..another member of the party of "family values" bites the dust. So sad.
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Deputy Secretary of State Randall L. Tobias submitted his resignation Friday, one day after confirming to ABC News that he had been a customer of a Washington, D.C. escort service whose owner has been charged by federal prosecutors with running a prostitution operation.

Tobias, 65, director of U.S. Foreign Assistance and administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), had previously served as the ambassador for the President's Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief.

[randalds]

And another ones gone and another ones gone and another bites the dust!

Hey, we're gonna get you too, another bites the dust!

[vastr-wcon]

Renzi, Wolfowitz, Gonzales, Rove, Rice, Bush, Cheney are all alike. These are people without principles, ethics, basic morality or honesty. They are in power for powers sake. None has a conscience or the integrity to just do the right thing. None will resign for their failures. They must be removed by people who recognize them for what they are.

"At the end of the day, the only thing you have... is your reputation built on trust and your personal honor and when you don't have that anymore, well, there you go," George Tenet tells Scott Pelley on CBS 60 Minutes. Words for Renzi, Wolfowitz, Gonzales, Rove, Rice, Bush, and Cheney to consider very seriously.

[adian1-2009]

The same question: how can it be that so many Republican crooks fit into one single hole? And when you take a look at their concerns regarding this Mr. Renzi, they are not concerned about ethics or morality. No. They are concerned about the inconveniences they would face if an election becomes necessary. What a bunch of crooks we have in Congress my friend!

Makes you wonder whether there is at least one honest Republican.