Breaking: FBI Raids Rep. Renzi’s Family Business
Breaking: FBI Raids Rep. Renzi’s Family Business
Roll Call reports:
In a second blow to House Republicans this week, the FBI raided a business tied to the family of Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.) Thursday afternoon as part of an ongoing investigation into the three-term lawmaker.
Details of the raid on Patriot Insurance Agency in Sonoita, Ariz., were not immediately available. Renzi’s most recent financial disclosure form lists the business as an asset belonging to his wife, Roberta, and valued at $1 million to $5 million.
Little is known about the inquiries into Renzi’s activities, but according to media reports the Justice Department has been running a two-track investigation into Renzi regarding a land deal, as well as a piece of legislation he helped steer that may have improperly benefited a major campaign contributor. It was not immediately clear which investigation the raid pertained to, and neither his attorney nor his spokesman could be immediately reached for comment.
As a result of the raid, Renzi is stepping down from his seat on the House Intelligence Committee, according to a statement from his office obtained Thursday evening by Roll Call.
“Today, the FBI came to my family’s business to obtain documents related to their investigation,” Renzi said. “I view these actions as the first step in bringing out the truth. Until this matter is resolved, I will take a leave of absence from the House Intelligence Committee. I intend to fully cooperate with this investigation.”
UPDATE: CREW has background on the two investigations into Renzi. There are also suspicions that Paul Charlton, the former U.S. Attorney in Arizona, was purged in part because of his probe into Renzi’s activities. (Gonzales was asked about Charlton today.)
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85 Responses to “Breaking: FBI Raids Rep. Renzi’s Family Business”
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Is there NO end to the GOP corruption in Washington, DC?
April 19th, 2007 at 10:48 pmRepublicans under Gonzo’s bus go thump, thump, thump…
…all around the town..
April 19th, 2007 at 10:49 pmThe house of cards is really coming down hard and fast, isn’t it?
April 19th, 2007 at 10:51 pmhey papa, you can manually type your html tag to get that bold back. its
to begin, and to end. Just incase you wanted to know.
I live in Renzi’s district, he represents me, I am appalled I tell ya…
April 19th, 2007 at 10:51 pmI like the words “Republican” and “raid” in close proximity of each other.
April 19th, 2007 at 10:55 pmCaption Contest:
Yeah, I’m a chunkhead.
April 19th, 2007 at 10:55 pmI live in Renzi’s district, he represents me, I am appalled I tell ya…
Comment by ForTruth — April 19, 2007 @ 10:51 pm
And oddly, you don’t sound sad. Swell guy, huh?
April 19th, 2007 at 10:58 pm“And the walls came tumbling down!”
Jerico, Bushco, history does indeed repeat itself!
April 19th, 2007 at 10:58 pmWoops if I manually type the tag it actually does the function.
ok you type that arrow thingy and the word strong like it shows above. and a /strong to turn it off.
April 19th, 2007 at 10:59 pmZooey,
So do I. After all, Raid does kill bugs dead
RRAAIIIDDD!!!
::BOOOM!!::
;-)
April 19th, 2007 at 11:00 pm. . . and the Democrats have only been in power 3 months. Too bad they have to spend so much time and energy trying to fix Bush’s mess in Iraq.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:01 pmCaption Contest:
I am so f**ked.
Hey Zooey
A raid a day, me likey.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:01 pm#4 For Truth
I got Trent Franks (Arizona 3, +/- some). Yours is gone! Lucky Dude!
April 19th, 2007 at 11:02 pmA fine example of how these Republicans are using the banner of Patriot or Christian to get that 33% behind them, when their only interest is self-serving. The sooner average American Patriots & Christians realize this, the sooner we can get people in office who truly do have our interests at heart.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:03 pmFormatting: Use the buttons below to apply basic HTML styles. Or use these tags directly:
April 19th, 2007 at 11:03 pmIt’s late and I’m a bit tired, but I have a question that troubling me….WHERE THE HELL WERE THE FBI WHEN WE NEEDED ALL THOSE COMPUTERS CONFISCATED AND EMAIL’S FOUND?….CAN’T PALOSI AND REID USE THEM TO UNCOVER THE REST OF THE EVIL IN THE WHITE HOUSE? .This guy’s small potatoes, I want the realy evil investigated, impeached and jailed…..Mad as hell, can ya tell.?…Blessings all and good night.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:03 pmWho’s next, Barney?
And how does Karl Rove avoid indictment, no matter what?
Really, folks, isn’t it time to just RICO the whole damned GOP?
April 19th, 2007 at 11:03 pmComment by ForTruth — April 19, 2007 @ 10:59 pm
It should look like this:
<strong>Text to be bolded.</strong>
<b> and </b> work too.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:04 pmJeez, with all these raids and all, how will the Republicans find enough representatives to sit on all the committees?
April 19th, 2007 at 11:04 pmRenzi’s a real swell guy.
/sarcasm
Actually Renzi and Kyle just got like 5 million bucks to AZ for some cool project to continue. I can’t remember the details. But it’s a little too little, and a little too late boys. Kyle’s a lockstepper-bootlickin’ Bushy to the max.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:05 pmThanks tripmaster, however you did that without activating the html function.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:06 pmBy clicking “Post - I Agree” below, you acknowledge that you have read our Terms of Use agreement and agree to its terms.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:06 pmRRAAIIIDDD!!!
::BOOOM!!::
;-)
Comment by Gregor Samsa
I loved those old commercials. :D
A raid a day, me likey.
Comment by Shane
Wouldn’t that be just too much fun? Yay!
April 19th, 2007 at 11:08 pmComment by TripMaster Monkey — April 19, 2007 @ 11:04 pm
Thanks, I could never figure this out.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:13 pmBy clicking “Post - I Agree†below, you acknowledge that you have read our Terms of Use agreement and agree to its terms.
Comment by Vino
Yes. So….?
April 19th, 2007 at 11:13 pmThanks tripmaster, however you did that without activating the html function.
Comment by ForTruth — April 19, 2007 @ 11:06 pm
Now I’m confused again. How do yo activate html function. Sorry.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:18 pmZooey look, I’m so bold all of a sudden. You guys are the best.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:19 pmPlease contact your “representatives”. I have. Following is what I have related to my “representatives”.
Honorable Senator Martinez,
Through news accounts of the deplorable actions of Cho Seung-Hui it has come to my attention the federal government may be keeping a database of antidepressant and other prescription medication users in violation of HIPPA.
Senator Martinez, I work in the health care field. We take pride, are continuously trained and reminded, and constantly strive to maintain our patient’s right to privacy. The government’s recent “admitting” knowledge of Cho Seung-Hui’s use of antidepressants is extremely disturbing.
Senator Martinez, I am 54 years old. In 2002, my marriage of 26 years ended in divorce. Two months after the divorce I was informed I had a spot on my right lung and might have lung cancer, which my natural father died of at 53 years of age, and my step-father died of 5 years previous to my diagnosis without leaving the hospital after his operation.
Senator Martinez, I was fired from my job at Cargill for supposed but undocumented deficiencies in my “performance” 3 months after returning from my life saving surgery.
Senator Martinez, would you please inquire if I am in that database of antidepressant patients. If I am, could you please remove my records in compliance with the laws I have to adhere to?
Please respond, and not with a form letter.
Thank you,
April 19th, 2007 at 11:21 pmME!
And what did we learn today about republicans? Kathy?
Kathy: Umm–that they put their girlfriends in cushy jobs, they insult the memories of shooting victims before their bodies get cold, they lie to Congress a lot, and they’re criminals?
Very good. Billy?
Billy: I’m confused. Are they Cylons or are they Sith?
Jeffrey: No way was Darth Maul a Republican!
Trevor: They’re Uruk-Hai!
Billy: Uruk-hai don’t have girlfriends!
Jeffrey: Yeah. “You will taste man-flesh”!
Class! Class! Jeffrey, time out! I said no more jokrd like that!
Jefferey: Sorry…
For your information, Republicans are Vogons.
(groans, squirming in chairs)
That’s right. Resistance is useless. Now who wants tio tell me the difference between talk radio and Vogon Poetry?
Nobody? Anybody? Bueller?
April 19th, 2007 at 11:21 pmthe republic of stupidity @ 17:
the RICO statutes would seem to apply. As someone pointed out when I suggested it: try to get the DOJ to persue it.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:22 pmWouldn’t that be just too much fun? Yay!
Comment by Zooey — April 19, 2007 @ 11:08 pm
Now I’m going to be all depressed the first day there isn’t a raid.
My daughter’s on a trip to the state capital and she’s going to ask the reps she meets about gun control and mental health care. I’m (sniffle) so proud.
I live in a totally Republican district but some of the other mothers, while we were seeing our kids off on the bus, were talking about throwing eggs at the White House and gun control. Now that is progress.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:22 pmThe kicker is that the buttons are working on my Mac browser called Safari.
The buttons didn’t work on the Windows box at work today.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:23 pmHmm…
Looks like they didn’t fire Arizona U.S. Attorney Paul Charlton soon enough….
April 19th, 2007 at 11:25 pmshane sez:
Just type the tags as shown in my post #18, shane…they’ll activate automatically.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:26 pmForTruth sez:
Let me guess…IE7?
April 19th, 2007 at 11:28 pmZooey look, I’m so bold all of a sudden. You guys are the best.
Comment by Shane
What is that? Bold-lite? Heh.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:29 pmYes Tripmaster, IE. We cannot use any other due to reasons I’m sure you are aware of.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:31 pmthese political parasites/termites just go as far as they can go….
they just don’t care, even when they’re found guilty
because they got lots of buddies
dude……….
the system is rigged man rigged
dig dude dig…………….
those public servants have totally corrupted and rigged the system.
that’s the reason it’s a cesspool of political parasites, maggots,
ticks, termites, mites, roaches……….
it’s totally rigged dude…… rigged
April 19th, 2007 at 11:32 pmJust type the tags as shown in my post #18, shane…they’ll activate automatically.
Comment by TripMaster Monkey
The buttons are working just fine for me. :-)
Compensation for not letting me on TP all afternoon, I’m sure.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:39 pm#16, remember, the FBI can’t even keep track of their own computers!
April 19th, 2007 at 11:41 pmI am sure that the subpoenas are just waiting to be issued for the RNC servers. And for their IT guy.
Fa la la, it is such a nice week! I smell spring and democracy in the air!
Comment by ForTruth #4
Hey Thanks tons ForTruth…
…I’m a guest here though…
…so I’ll abide by my host’s wishes…
…as long as I can get what I want to say out…
…I’m okay…
…hell, I’ll live…
:-)
April 19th, 2007 at 11:51 pmWhat???? Another corrupt Republican?? What will we tell the children???
April 19th, 2007 at 11:51 pmTripmaster,
At my work I have a stuped Pentium III computer with Windows 2000. I think its IE6. Non-profit organization you know.
April 19th, 2007 at 11:52 pmHey Zooey and Shane…
I left a little hopefully thought provoking post for you on the “Iraqis stand up” thread…
Zooey,
…thanks for your concern on my new found “forced” conformity…
…good to know that I didn’t totally repulse you with that WaltTheMan hassle…
April 19th, 2007 at 11:56 pmZooey,
…thanks for your concern on my new found “forced†conformity…
…good to know that I didn’t totally repulse you with that WaltTheMan hassle…
Comment by big papa
I’ll check the Iraqis stand up thread, thanks big papa.
Actually, I didn’t see any tussle with Walt. :)
April 20th, 2007 at 12:01 amWhat is that? Bold-lite? Heh.
Comment by Zooey — April 19, 2007 @ 11:29 pm
No I was bold in 24 and now I’m back to my usual demure self.
April 20th, 2007 at 12:06 amNo I was bold in 24 and now I’m back to my usual demure self.
Comment by Shane
Demure? Heh.
Yeah, people laugh when I use that word, too….. :D
April 20th, 2007 at 12:33 amToo bad I couldn’t vote on that district to get rid of him too, but hey, I was at least able to help get rid of JD Hayworth…one schmuck at a time I guess, eh?
April 20th, 2007 at 12:36 amWell I’ll give your “bi-partisan” source credit - out of ALLLLLL those rotten Repubs listed they mentioned Democrat a crook whose direct financial shenanigans are NEVER mentioned, Maxine “No Justice- No Peace!” Waters.
April 20th, 2007 at 1:46 amWell I’ll give your “bi-partisan†source credit - out of ALLLLLL those rotten Repubs listed they mentioned Democrat a crook whose direct financial shenanigans are NEVER mentioned, Maxine “No Justice- No Peace!†Waters. Comment by valiant venus — April 20, 2007 @ 1:46 am
In the face of widespread and real corruption, all you can do is fabricate b*llsh*t. You’re a sad pathetic and st*pid little c*nt.
April 20th, 2007 at 1:58 amA raid a day keeps the facists away….
April 20th, 2007 at 2:17 amWhy does valiant venus constantly whining about being a victim. When did the republicans turn into such wimps.
April 20th, 2007 at 2:21 amWhy does valiant venus constantly whining about being a victim. When did the republicans turn into such wimps. Comment by ben — April 20, 2007 @ 2:21 am
When they were aborted during a partial birth…
April 20th, 2007 at 2:28 amIt seems we always elect the worst kind of people to represent us. Those that lust for power and those that use the power to line their own pockets.
April 20th, 2007 at 2:36 amToo bad the FBI can’t raid Diebold, ES&S, Sequioa and all the other (Constitution Denying Right To Vote) Electronic Voting Machine Manufacture Corporations.
Control of the voting machines
Control of the press
Control of the courts
Control of all three branches of government
Control of organizations with civil service type employees, such as intelligence.
If we can’t impeach the Oath Of Office breakers, then let’s actually count the vote and vote them out!!
April 20th, 2007 at 5:22 amI know Bush didn’t know about this. If he did Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.) would be in his top staff.
April 20th, 2007 at 7:05 amOne would think a man with 12 children might want to be ethical. Does his being a Republican remove his ethics?
April 20th, 2007 at 7:19 amI will be so angry if the Dems do not do everything necessary to be sure that they get the ‘missing’ RNC emails by Rove and other WH aides. That is the only way we will get to the bottom of this mess.
April 20th, 2007 at 7:55 amNo fan of Republicans myself, but the source of the evil is the long-time absence of consequences for their missteps. No party can hold power for six years with no oversight and resist the lure of corruption.
April 20th, 2007 at 8:16 amMost people still dont get it - its not rep. or dem. either have abused their powers.
* Power corrupts and corrupts absolute.
People just dont have the moral fiber to do the right thing anymore.
PCE
April 20th, 2007 at 8:26 amThe GOP is sooo done! These guys have made it so if you say in 2010 you were GOP-people will look at ‘em like the war criminals that they are…
April 20th, 2007 at 8:48 amTell us about the The Dianne Feinstein Scandal or like the Clintons, do all you liberals have poor memories? How bout all the DEMOCRATS IN PRISON who have actually been convicted of CORRUPTION and not the mud slinging that you apparently take orgasmic pleasure in conducting.
Stan
April 20th, 2007 at 9:38 amPeeJ, (post 28) I understand your concern about medical records and the govt list of those of us (!) on antidepressants, BUT I think one of the problems arose when we all started signing these HIPAA forms. Prior to HIPAA, I think that our medical history was off-limits to anyone; I’m sure the govt could get it, but they had to do it nice and legal-like. Now, it’s theirs–HIPAA signed away all our privacy for the govt, not the public. Disgusting!!
And, those of you who are happy about the FBI searches causing GOPers to give up their seats on committees–if you look closely, both of the 2 recent ones took “leave of absence”-type giving up–not giving it up for good, but probably just until 2008, when they’re hoping that the Congress will revert to GOP control. I will be thrilled when it causes them to give up their SEAT!!
Author of post 40, I don’t know where you’re living, but my week (south-central PA) did not begin to get nice until today!! I’m wishin & hopin & thinking & prayin, Plannin & schemin (or is it “dreamin”)….etc. for both Spring AND Democracy too!!
April 20th, 2007 at 9:45 am…,valued at $1 million to $5 million.
uh… that’s a really HUGE spread there…
April 20th, 2007 at 10:10 amhow can that be? …
katy….
April 20th, 2007 at 10:35 amI think insurance premiums in Arizona vary according to the last time it rained, and what kind of car the customer is driving…
Keep bringing them down…maybe eventually the republicans will decide they would prefer attention to be on the impeachment of Dick Cheney instead of on them…
April 20th, 2007 at 10:53 amAnother one bites the dust.
April 20th, 2007 at 10:58 amRep. Doolittle’s R-CA raid last week, and today’s raid on Renzi R-AZ, should help dispel the notion that “The Culture Of Corruption” in the GOP is just marketing by their opponents.
April 20th, 2007 at 11:42 amDuncan Hunter and Jerry Lewis, you’re next!
April 20th, 2007 at 12:28 pmStan: “How bout all the DEMOCRATS IN PRISON who have actually been convicted of CORRUPTION”
Aside from Dan Rostenkowski, can you name one? (Even mentioning Rostenkowski would be wrong. He’s out.)
April 20th, 2007 at 12:30 pmOh, and Stan, not to pick nits, but the Clintons have never been convicted for any crime. The only time either one of them was even indicted was when Bill lied about a blowjob. What “scandal” are you talking about?
April 20th, 2007 at 12:32 pmGet over it….both sides of the ball are just as corrupt as the other….just depends who is getting caught at the time.
April 20th, 2007 at 12:33 pmAh, yes. The lazy man’s argument: both sides do it. Yawn.
April 20th, 2007 at 12:38 pmThere goes another Federal Attorney!
April 20th, 2007 at 12:43 pmI am sick of all this circus wiht all this self proclaim conservatives,senators,president,vice,general attorney;and so on; where they elected to serve the people, of the U.S.A ? or their dishonest political party and personal interes Do they know about integrity, Honesty,and their plage to serve the people who elcted Them O i forget this is all a charade after all is a big Circus.
April 20th, 2007 at 1:56 pmCREW’s “20 Most Corrupt Members of Congress”
House of Representatives
* Rep. Roy Blunt [4] (R-MO)
April 20th, 2007 at 1:56 pm* Rep. Ken Calvert [5](R-CA) (new, September 2006)
* Rep. John Doolittle [6](R-CA) (new, September 2006)
* Rep. Tom Feeney [7] (R-FL)
* Rep. Katherine Harris [8] (R-FL) (new, September 2006)
* Rep. William Jefferson [9] (D-LA)
* Rep. Jerry Lewis [10](R-CA) (new, September 2006)
* Rep. Gary Miller [11](R-CA) (new, September 2006)
* Rep. Alan Mollohan [12](D-WV) (new, September 2006)
* Rep. Marilyn Musgrave [13] (R-CO)
* Rep. Richard Pombo [14] (R-CA)
* Rep. Rick Renzi [15] (R-AZ)
* Rep. Pete Sessions [16](R-TX) (new, September 2006)
* Rep. John Sweeney [17](R-NY) (new, September 2006)
* Rep. Charles H. Taylor [18] (R-NC)
* Rep. Maxine Waters [19] (D-CA)
* Rep. Curt Weldon [20] (R-PA) (new, September 2006)
Whoops,
Here is the website of CREW (Citizens for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington)
April 20th, 2007 at 2:11 pmBorg. The Repulsicans are BORG. The “hive mentality”, blind total destrictive allegiance, no taste. Ugly looking. And Stan, Bill’s penis dind’t declare war on an innocuous country and kill over 3300 Americans, wound over 24,000 and kill and maim 600,000 Iraqi civilians.
April 20th, 2007 at 3:39 pmGOP is poison; alkali water in a desert oasis mud pool.
Comment by Tom #76
…Put your INDICTMENTS…
…where your Bush-ball filled mouth is…
…you TREASONOUS inbred right wing scumbag…
…Bush worshipping al Ceeracka…
…YOUR sick a*s parents are more corrupt than the people on this list…
…for conceiving an inbred, recessive gene infested moron like you…
April 20th, 2007 at 9:06 pm…#78
Sorry Tom…
…didn’t read the entire list…
…simply reacted to the highlighted Dems…
…mistook you for a troll…
April 20th, 2007 at 9:24 pmSo what’s Renzi doing that Diane Feinstein’s husband hasn’t done with his wife’s help? Or the Doles, or the Kennedy’s, or any of the power elite??
When ya’ll get it - Dems or Reps - ya’will learn that both parties are exactly the same. Then maybe we’ll kick’em out; ya think?
April 21st, 2007 at 3:22 pmNo problemo, big papa.
Rick (12 or 13 kids, for what does he need so many kids?) Renzi is my congressman. He’s a real shyster.
April 21st, 2007 at 3:42 pmLand-Swap Plan
April 21st, 2007 at 4:36 pmCauses Trouble
For Congressman
Mr. Renzi Offers Field
To Mining Companies;
Grand Jury Is Active
The Wall Street Journal
Well, well, well. This is particularly sad. Just how Mr. Renzi figured he’d be able to figure out a deal which benefitted his daddy’s company and think that people wouldn’t be up in arms is indicative of either his corruption or his naivete. I’m not really sure which. But, it doesn’t matter. People don’t vote to send your arse to Congress to setup perceived sweetheart deals which benefit ManTech and your daddy.
Now, this land deal. I have no idea, yet, what all the facts in this matter really are. But, just from reading the Wall Street Journal article as suggested from Poster #83, Rick Renzi has the scent of eau de corruption spritzed all over his white collar crimes. Mr. Renzi comes across as a sleazy crook.
Go in peace, Mr. Renzi, but please go.
April 27th, 2007 at 2:12 pmWow, Big Pappa, you’re really a PIECE OF SHIT. In general, I’ll gladly take Republicans over Liberal a*sholes.
April 28th, 2007 at 6:08 pm