WASHINGTON, Feb. 22, 2008
Congressman Indicted In Land Scam
Arizona Republican Rick Renzi Charged With Wire Fraud, Money Laundering
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Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz. waits to speak at a Republican fundraiser in Scottsdale, Ariz., in this Oct. 4, 2006 file photo. (AP Photo)
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A 26-page federal indictment unsealed in Arizona accuses Renzi and two former business partners of conspiring to promote the sale of land that buyers could swap for property owned by the federal government. The sale netted one of Renzi's former partners $4.5 million.
Renzi is a three-term member of the House. He announced in August that he would not seek re-election.
Attempts to reach Renzi by phone through his congressional office in Flagstaff and his lawyer were unsuccessful Friday.
As part of the alleged scam, Renzi and his former business partner, James W. Sandlin, concealed at least $733,000 that the congressman took for helping seal the land deals, the indictment says.
"Renzi was having financial difficulty throughout 2005 and needed a substantial infusion of funds to keep his insurance business solvent and to maintain his personal lifestyle," the indictment says.
The indictment accuses Renzi of using his position as a member of the House Natural Resources Committee to push the land swaps for Sandlin, who was also charged. It comes after a lengthy federal investigation into the land development and insurance businesses owned by Renzi's family.
GOP presidential front-runner Sen. John McCain, an Arizona colleague of Renzi's, seemed surprised when asked in Indianapolis for his reaction to the indictment, choosing his words carefully, shaking his head and speaking slowly.
"I'm sorry. I feel for the family; as you know, he has 12 children," McCain told reporters on the presidential campaign trail. "But I don't know enough of the details to make a judgment. These kinds of things are always very unfortunate.... I rely on our Department of Justice and system of justice to make the right outcome."
The extensive legal document says Renzi refused in 2005 and 2006 to secure congressional approval for land swaps by two unnamed businesses if they did not agree to buy Sandlin's property as a part of the deal.
Renzi had previously owned some of Sandlin's property, the indictment says.
In early 2005, one of the businesses seeking surface rights for a copper mining project in Renzi's district failed to buy Sandlin's land. As a result, the indictment says, Renzi allegedly told the business, "No Sandlin property, no bill."
At the time, Sandlin owed Renzi $700,000 out of the land's selling price of $800,000. Renzi also allegedly concealed his business relationship with Sandlin, even though the company had expressly asked if there was one.
Meanwhile, Renzi allegedly pushed the land on a second firm, an unnamed investment group, that was trying to secure a federal land swap. If the firm accepted Sandlin's property as part of the transaction, Renzi allegedly said investors would receive a "free pass" through the House Natural Resources Committee, according to the indictment.
In April 2005, the investors reluctantly agreed to the deal.
"Please be sensitive to the fact that we are going way out on a limb at the request of Congressman Renzi," one of the investors wrote in an April 17, 2005 e-mail to a Renzi aide. "I am putting my complete faith in Congressman Renzi and you that this is the correct decision."
The investment group agreed to pay $4.6 million for Sandlin's land, the indictment says. Sandlin then paid Renzi $733,000 for his help in securing the land swap from the second business.
Renzi failed to report the income on financial disclosure reports to Congress, as is required.
Government watchdog group Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington applauded the Justice Department for holding Renzi "accountable given that his House colleagues refused to do so." The group has had Renzi on its "Most Corrupt Members of Congress" list for the last three years.
"Bluster aside, this latest in a string of congressional indictments demonstrates that Congress simply will not police itself," said CREW executive director Melanie Sloan.
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Best-selling author Mitch Albom on his first nonfiction work since "Tuesdays with Morrie."
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See all 234 CommentsGonzales made sure the word was out that Federal presecutors must go after "vote fraud" across the nation.
Those who mistakenly presumed this had to be based on evidence came up short-- in fact, eight were fired for their "failure" to use the power of federal law enforcement for partisan ends.
The rest of the prosecutors-- those who said "Yes, anything you want, Karl!"-- fared little better, providing no basis for a GOP campaign against corruption. But they kept their jobs.
By now, we understand how Rep. Renzi could thumb his nose for three years at corruption charges against him in the public forum. GOP leaders and Gonzales simply looked the other way.
Only now, under Mukasey, has there been more of an effort to investigate criminality without demanding a party identification badge, first.
This comes only seven years into the most corrupt administration on record. Heckuva job, Bush!
and the original meaning of far right
was the throne-and-altar reactionaries such as Joseph de Maistre and Louis de Bonald.
They rejected democracy, liberalism and individualism, and were in favour of an authoritarian monarchical government.
Nothing has changed but the date
So, how DID you make it through the clinton good time years??
And, as typical, all you libs can do is name call and attempt to demean anyone who has another point of view. Bet you''re in favor of the fairness doctrine.
Have you had your medication levels checked lately??? So full of hate and bile. Shame.
Check my post on the TURKEY PASSES.
-I''m eager to see the Haliburton board fronting Justices for allegations of stealing the Public Treasury and its ex-president DicckCheney''s for lies over and over.
"This is Sen. John McCain. I''m calling to urge you to support my friend Rep. Rick Renzi for Congress. Rick has represented the first district of Arizona with tenacity, honesty and integrity beyond reproach. I work with Rick every day and can report to you his total dedication to the people of Arizona and the United States. Please join me in supporting rural Arizona''s workhorse congressman on Nov. 7. [Paid for and authorized by Rick Renzi for Congress]."
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Text of a robocall to voters in Rick Renzi''s district.
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Despite making the Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington "Most Corrupt Members Of Congress" list for the last three years, Renzi was co-chair of McCains Arizona presidential campaign.
As for your answer about the fairness doctrine which came about and pushed by the left in answer to the left''s monopoly of all media. Have you ever watched FOX news?? Doubt it. And just why is the left all in lather about right wing radio?? You had your chance with Air America.
As for roosevelt and stalin,er, uncle joe, he did have a close relationship with him. As for the A bomb, did we use it on Russia???????
You call it nationalism, I call it patriotism. See, I don''t think my country is the absolute worse place in the world. Not saying you do but there is a lot of America bashing going on from the left.
Nope, don''t know anyone who has been wiretaped. No response to project eschelon and the files on perceived enemies of the clinton''s??
WEll,I have to go do that crazy right wing thing like work.
Thanks for the civil post to me and the lack of name calling. Truly and oddity from someone on the left.
Take care.
No, you''''ll never see that any time soon. You''''ll just hear how Bubba got a BJ, and didn''''t make a "Picture Book" for the Little Drunken Crackhead so he''''d know the "Terr''''ists" wuz comin'''',....after all, the many reports suggesting we''''d be attacked, were in the form of "Written Reports", which of course everyone knows,
no Neocon/GOPerv is capable of decyphering......
Morons, Dumbassses, and Criminals: The three building blocks of the Republiscum Party.
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Posted by veteran71 at 11:04 AM : Feb 23, 2008
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If you REALLY want to see something that will send chills down you spine go to the Web Site of the RNC! Look at the Video they have on there. It''s hard to imagine how we can be involved in this "War" on Terror for over 7 years and still be at this level of FEAR. Now IF I''m the enemy I love this, because it''s obvious the leaders of this nation are using against it''s OWN people the SAME methods and propaganda that they, the Terrorist, use. That''s got to make them believe that they are winning...which in fact they are.
You blind hatred is worrisome and probably harmful to yourself and those around you.
Go to the nearest VA hospital and seek help.
Posted by Xlib at 10:45 AM : Feb 23, 2008
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I have studied History for almost 35 years, taught it for nearly 25 and I can''t find ONE thing Sarge said in his post that is NOT FACT. Care to point out exactly what you attack him for? I''d like to know and I''d like to know the source for your information.
Posted by Xlib at 10:50 AM : Feb 23, 2008
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I can''t speak for all on the "Left" as you state because that seems to be like the word "Liberal" to you folks. I can address the present state of the issues you raised thought.
The Fairness Doctrine is a regulation that ONCE was in the FCC Code. It required any News Organization to present BOTH sides of any given argument. It was taken out of the Code by Republican''s because it prevented people like Bill O''Rielly and Rush Limbaugh from conducting their radio programs.
I''m not aware of any "attacks" on Christian''s. What I am aware of is the basis of law that run out of schools in the 60''s people who taught "Equal but Different" under the banner of "School Prayer". It has long been the standard in this nation, all the way back to the FIRST Congress that there MUST be a Wall of Seperation between Church and State. The State MUST not take ONE Citizens position over that of another Citizens. The 14th Amendment further clairified that to mean ALL citizens and ALL religions. Does that help?
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