Rick Renzi

Rick Renzi
Official portrait, c. 2005
Member of the U.S. House of Representatives
from Arizona's 1st district
In office
January 3, 2003 – January 3, 2009
Preceded byJeff Flake
Succeeded byAnn Kirkpatrick
Personal details
Born
Richard George Renzi

(1958-06-11) June 11, 1958 (age 66)
Fort Monmouth, New Jersey, U.S.
Political partyRepublican
SpouseRoberta Renzi
Children12[1]
Education

Richard George Renzi (born June 11, 1958) is an American politician who was a Republican member of the United States House of Representatives representing Arizona's 1st congressional district from 2003 until 2009.

In 2013, he was convicted on federal criminal charges against him for his involvement in a land-swap deal. The charges for personal gain of over $700,000 were filed in 2008.[2][3][4] On April 19, 2007, the FBI raided his family business, and he temporarily resigned from the House Intelligence Committee.[5] On April 27, Renzi denied printed claims he was considering resigning office;[6] however, on August 23, Renzi announced he would not be a candidate for re-election in 2008.[7][8] On February 22, 2008, Renzi was indicted on 35 counts connected to land deals.[9] He pleaded not guilty. On June 12, 2013, Renzi was convicted on 17 of 32 counts in his corruption case.[10] On October 28, 2013, he was sentenced to three years in prison.[11]

After numerous examples of Prosecutorial Misconduct came to light in a 119-page Inspector General complaint,[12][13] Renzi was pardoned by President Donald Trump on January 20, 2021.[14]

  1. ^ "Waiting for the end, boys". The Economist. October 12, 2006.
  2. ^ "Arizona GOP lawmaker indicted". CNN. February 22, 2008.
  3. ^ Johnston, David (October 25, 2006). "Congressman From Arizona Is the Focus of an Inquiry". New York Times.
  4. ^ Weisman, Jonathan & Dan Eggen (October 25, 2006). "Lawmaker's Influence in Land Deals Probed". The Washington Post.
  5. ^ "FBI raids Renzi business; he vows full cooperation". Arizona Daily Sun. April 20, 2007. Archived from the original on April 22, 2007.
  6. ^ Sunnucks, Mike (April 26, 2007). "Replacements waiting in wings as Renzi ponders resignation". Business Journal of Phoenix. "Renzi Denies Resignation Rumors". Roll Call. April 27, 2007.
  7. ^ "Renzi Says He Will Not Seek Re-Election". Roll Call. August 23, 2007.
  8. ^ Wilke, John, "Renzi Won't Seek Re-Election as Federal Inquiry Broadens" Wall Street Journal, August 24, 2007, pg. A6.
  9. ^ Rep. Renzi indicted on corruption charges
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference convicted was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  11. ^ Christie, Bob (28 October 2013). "Ex-Rep. Rick Renzi Gets 3 Years In Prison For Corruption Convictions". A.P. Retrieved 28 October 2013.
  12. ^ "Rep. Paul Gosar Calls for Trump to Pardon Former Congressman". 26 December 2020.
  13. ^ https://abuseofpower.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Renzi-4-10-2019-Renzi-DOJ-Filing.pdf [bare URL PDF]
  14. ^ "Statement from the Press Secretary Regarding Executive Grants of Clemency". whitehouse.gov. Retrieved January 20, 2021 – via National Archives.