Renzi: ‘I am innocent.’
By on Feb 25th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Renzi: ‘I am innocent.’
Contrary to the desires of House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH), Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) released a statement late Monday vowing not to resign his House seat. “I will not resign and take on the cloak of guilt because I am innocent,” Renzi said. He was indicted last week on 35 counts of extortion, money laundering and conspiracy relating to his efforts to get the federal government to buy land from his business partner.
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‘I am innocent.’
We’ve seen this movie before Duke Cunnigham, Bob Ney, Jack Abramoff, Mark Foley, Larry Craig….and on and on……..
February 25th, 2008 at 8:36 pmI wish Jefferson AND Renzi would resign gg.
February 25th, 2008 at 8:39 pmBUT, the topic of this post, gg, is Boehner wants Renzi to resign.
February 25th, 2008 at 8:40 pmHA HA HA HA HA……
You can still get that George Hamilton tan of yours….. In the PRISON yard.
February 25th, 2008 at 8:41 pm35 counts! Sorry Rick, but that’s going to be tough to beat. One count still requires a truckload of evidence to prosecute. 35 counts requires probably a mountain of evidence. Innocent until proven guilty of course. Cop a plea Rick, the clock is ticking.
February 25th, 2008 at 8:47 pmBob Ney got out this week and this guy will be going in.
The GOP is starting to resemble a street gang…….in and out of jail.
They also know how to “play the system’ like street criminals.
Do you think if they start turning up in the same detention facility they will start their own prison gang?
Do you think Karl Rove will “squeal like a pig” if he does any time?
February 25th, 2008 at 8:53 pmDo you suppose Gigi THINKs Wiliam Jefferson should resign?
February 25th, 2008 at 8:53 pm‘I am innocent’ . . . and so is Tom DeLay and Duke Cunningham and Bob Ney and Jack Abramoff. And Scooter Liby.
February 25th, 2008 at 8:54 pmYes Rep Renzi, you are innocent — until you are proven guilty.
But don’t resign — you’ll be as effective as Sen Craig is to his constituents.
February 25th, 2008 at 8:56 pmIt’s not persecution, it’s prosecution (when all is said and done, it’ll probably be prostitution).
Republicans are vile and loathsome.
February 25th, 2008 at 8:59 pmThe AZ US Attorney Diane Humetewa, & Paul Charlton before her, have been putting this indictment together for a loooong time. The term “airtight” comes to mind.
It’s not a cloak of guilt Renzi would be putting on, it’s the full body suit.
February 25th, 2008 at 9:08 pmDo you suppose Gigi THINKs Wiliam Jefferson should resign?
Comment by ralph the wonder llama — February 25, 2008 @ 8:53 pm
Apparently, goon_golly thinks that William Jefferson has set the proper moral tone for Congress. “Innocent until proven guilty” and hang on to your seat as long as possible, regardless of what your party has asked you to do.
February 25th, 2008 at 9:12 pm“OJ” innocent, that is.
February 25th, 2008 at 9:13 pmGG… Flag!
February 25th, 2008 at 9:14 pmI suspect our troll goofy-golly is desperate for attention and/or being paid to post here. Or maybe it has a secret crush on progressives. Why else would it show up early, if not first on every thread? Mental problems, income or jealousy, hmm, I wonder what it is?
February 25th, 2008 at 9:16 pmDo you think Karl Rove will “squeal like a pig†if he does any time?
Comment by flavorino — February 25, 2008 @ 8:53 pm
I am sure once Bubba and Tyrone get ahold of him he will squeal with joy…I really think KKKarl will like it.
February 25th, 2008 at 9:17 pmComment by gummitch — February 25, 2008 @ 9:12 pm
You’re probably right, gum, but what I was getting at was whether Gigi referenced Rep. Jefferson because she thought he SHOULD resign (which would mean, by extension that she thinks Renzi should resign) or if she was just trying to introduce a less-sophisticated “two wrongs make a right” argument in favor of Renzi’s continued sevice in the House.
Either way, Gig’s got a bit of a difficult stand to make. No wonder she’s buggered off.
February 25th, 2008 at 9:19 pmWe might have more indicted Law Makers in office then ever before. Yes we have criminals representing the voters of the States. No Justice System in the United States as the new Attorney General is getting his kick backs to follow the White House orders. Judges and lawyers are getting kick backs with taxpayers money. Cheney is using US Contracts to cover up the payments. At lease we know none of these crooks can take the money with them when they die.
February 25th, 2008 at 9:22 pmWhat is to be gained by hanging on to his seat? The only thing I see is the appointment of someone to take his place that might be a Democrat because the Governor of Arizona is a Democrat. I guess that’s as good a reason as any in his eyes.
February 25th, 2008 at 9:24 pmI guess that’s as good a reason as any in his eyes.
Comment by calibleu — February 25, 2008 @ 9:24 pm
I think guys like Renzi, and Jefferson, are in denial, calibeau. To resign is a de facto admission of guilt, and they can’t do that.
They have to fight to the bitter end.
February 25th, 2008 at 9:27 pmJefferson should resign, no doubt.
February 25th, 2008 at 9:36 pmThe Republicans screwed that up by illegally searching his office.
So once again, the Republicans made it about them and their penchant for snooping.
They have to fight to the bitter end.
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — February 25, 2008 @ 9:27 pm
I don’t care if you’re a Democrat or a Republican when there is any hint of a betrayal of trust to the people you represent, you must step down. It’s seems to be so trendy not to take responsibility for your actions in government. The only people who must take responsibility for their actions are those who don’t have money to actually defend themselves.
February 25th, 2008 at 9:38 pmRenzi: “I am innocent.”
Mr. Evil: “35-1 odds says you’re not.”
February 25th, 2008 at 9:41 pmSo once again, the Republicans made it about them and their penchant for snooping.
Comment by Guido OBGYN Lover — February 25, 2008 @ 9:36 pm
Always a chance that was handled badly on purpose, Guido. Makes it just that much harder to investigate similar cases. And mebbe it was just incompetence. Hard to say.
February 25th, 2008 at 9:43 pmI agree, calibeau. Jefferson was asked to resign, and he refused to. He was also stripped of all his Committee memberships. Why he chooses to fight on, I don’t get. I’ve seen this so many times, and I STILL don’t understand it. Denial is a POWERFUL force, and very destructive.
February 25th, 2008 at 9:45 pmIt’s okay, I’m a republican…
February 25th, 2008 at 9:46 pmJefferson was stripped of leadership, do I recall correctly?
February 25th, 2008 at 9:48 pmIOKIYAR
February 25th, 2008 at 9:48 pmYes, Guido, he was.
February 25th, 2008 at 9:51 pmComment by The Republic of Stupidity — February 25, 2008 @ 9:45 pm
Who are they trying fool, themselves or us? I would say they are fooling themselves.
February 25th, 2008 at 9:53 pm‘I am innocent.’
We’ve seen this movie before Duke Cunnigham, Bob Ney, Jack Abramoff, Mark Foley, Larry Craig….and on and on……..
Comment by flavorino — February 25, 2008 @ 8:36 pm
Correct. I live in Bob Ney’s district and (for some odd reason) I received one of his campaign letters about a month before he admitted guilt. The letter vigorously claimed his innocence and the fact that he was the victim of a partisan witchhunt, blah, blah, blah.
February 25th, 2008 at 9:54 pmGood question, calibeau. Ever deal w/ a pathological lair? they are scary people. I once heard Bill O’Reilly tell a caller on his show that he, Bill O’reilly, doesn’t take calls on his show. Wow… just, Wow!
Yes, they only fool themselves after a while. I personally think it has to do w/ lying endlessly. They practice so much that they can’t stop, and after a while, even they can’t tell if they’re lying or not.
February 25th, 2008 at 9:56 pmI once heard Bill O’Reilly tell a caller on his show that he, Bill O’reilly, doesn’t take calls on his show. Wow… just, Wow!
Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — February 25, 2008 @ 9:56 pm
What? How…?
Huh?
February 25th, 2008 at 9:59 pmRenzi, Cunningham, Ney . . . all believed the Rovian myth of the permanent Republican majority and figured they would never actually be punished for their misdeeds. Jefferson is probably using the shield of Congress to protect himself until he can dump whatever incriminating evidence is available.
Politics has always attracted real sh!tbags but the Republicans, of late, are apparently trying to recreate the glory of the Tammany era.
February 25th, 2008 at 10:03 pmHuh?
Comment by Zooey — February 25, 2008 @ 9:59 pm
True, Z. It was, maybe the fall of 2005. Some guy called in from Florida to talk about this brutal murder (some folks killed some migrant workers in a trailer) and something BillO had said about it to a caller. O’Reilly got mad at the guy and literally told him, “I don’t take calls on this show, okay?”
It was indeed stunning, even by BillO’s standards.
February 25th, 2008 at 10:07 pmNot guilty on 35 counts. Does he understand that they only had to file the charges they new they could get convictions on. That they’re judged on the percent of convictions on charges and that they’d have to be crazy to charge him for extra things they couldn’t get convictions on. Does he not understand these are Federal prosecutors. Apparently all these guys thought the Republican control was going to last forever. We’re going to need more prisons.
February 25th, 2008 at 10:08 pmComment by The Republic of Stupidity — February 25, 2008 @ 10:07 pm
Amazing.
Thanks, TRoS.
February 25th, 2008 at 10:10 pmWe’re going to need more prisons.
Comment by Shayne — February 25, 2008 @ 10:08 pm
Hmmmm… and once again, we find something to agree on. Spooky.
Yer welcome, Z.
February 25th, 2008 at 10:12 pmEver deal w/ a pathological lair? they are scary people. Comment by The Republic of Stupidity — February 25, 2008 @ 9:56 pm
We have been dealing with a pathological liar for the last 7 years. Since Bush has been able to get away with all of his lies without any consequences, the rest of them think they have a free pass.
Then Boehner comes out and says “I have made it clear that I will hold our members to the highest standards of ethical conduct,†My question is since when has he been concerned about ethical conduct?
February 25th, 2008 at 10:12 pmComment by calibleu — February 25, 2008 @ 10:12 pm
Ever since the S.S. GOOP started taking on water. Unfortunately, it’s too little too late. The ship isn’t sinking… it’s sitting solidly on the bottom.
Yes, we have been dealing w/ a pathological liar for 7 years. He’s done an enormous amount of damage to the country in that time, and STILL some willingly follow him. It is painful to watch.
February 25th, 2008 at 10:15 pmThe trouble is calibleu that they’ve set the bar so low that a mouse would have a hard time doing the limbo under it.
February 25th, 2008 at 10:34 pmI have a question. I certainly don’t know what happened with Jefferson but if the DoJ with all of their corrupt, bought and paid for attorney’s haven’t indicted him…isn’t that an indication that he might not have done anything? Or there is not enough evidence to charge him?
February 25th, 2008 at 11:18 pmGood point on Jefferson JP. But as far as Renzi’s “I am innocent.” Let him tell it to the judge.
February 25th, 2008 at 11:25 pmYeah, Shayne, 35 counts…I am thinking innocent is a bit misleading.
February 25th, 2008 at 11:27 pmThe GOP is becoming a national JOKE, thanks to dishonorable men like Renzi et al. What a laughinstock this party has become. Soon it will no longer exist.
Comment by satirev — February 25, 2008 @ 9:54 pm
Good, then perhaps the Democratic Party can once again become a more working class party again. I am really tired of rank and file not being listened too because we are in many cases Republicon lite. I think Clinton was good for some reasons and he throws out a good speech but what he did to us in his eight years was disgusting, remember naafta and who can forget what he did to the for the FCC.
February 25th, 2008 at 11:43 pmHe is up for 35 counts, of course he is going to say he is innocent.
February 26th, 2008 at 12:30 am35 counts can equal quite a few years, if the judge is grumpy on sentencing day.
Has William Jefferson resigned yet?
Comment by good_golly — February 25, 2008 @ 8:32 pm
Has George Bush resigned yet?
February 26th, 2008 at 12:50 amHas William Jefferson resigned yet?
Comment by good_golly — February 25, 2008 @ 8:32 pm
Has John McCain resigned yet?
February 26th, 2008 at 12:50 amHysterical to here HACKS like good_golly ONLY call for Democrats to resign. The ONLY VALUE ALL republicans HAVE is HYPOCRISY! ;)
February 26th, 2008 at 12:52 am–==DEM DEBATE TODAY==–
February 26th, 2008 at 6:45 amif the DoJ with all of their corrupt, bought and paid for attorney’s haven’t indicted him…isn’t that an indication that he might not have done anything? Or there is not enough evidence to charge him?
February 26th, 2008 at 7:27 amThrow Renzi into the same cell/closet with Larry Craig. They’re both innocent and will not resign.
February 26th, 2008 at 7:50 amWhen does he go to trial? As much as it ouch! hurts to say this, until he’s proven guilty in court, I’m going to reserve judgement.
February 26th, 2008 at 9:42 amIf and when he’s convicted, I hope the bastard spends many years in some non-club prison.
Man I’m glad Rick isn’t stepping down, so he can still represent me.
/sarcasm
In reality we all knew this guy was a schmuck from the get go. There is a video out there, not on YouTube that I could find, where Rick is seen on the day of 9/11 in DC, wearing a wife beater, and a mullet, going off about the events he has seen. It was truly strange.
February 26th, 2008 at 10:48 amif the DoJ with all of their corrupt, bought and paid for attorney’s haven’t indicted him…isn’t that an indication that he might not have done anything? Or there is not enough evidence to charge him?
Comment by yisou —
Are you serious?
Think about what you have said. not only do you show bad thinking on your part, but you put off folks reading your message as fools.
Unless of course you are trying to fun us, or your cat did it.
February 26th, 2008 at 12:15 pmRick Renzi is a good man with 12 children recently his father died and his family is going threw hard times
February 26th, 2008 at 1:53 pmRemember Spiro Agnew?
“The charges against me are, if you’ll pardon the expression, damned lies. I am innocent of these charges. If indicted, I will not resign.”
– September, 1973
February 26th, 2008 at 7:04 pm