Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz., used his position in Congress to influence a federal land-exchange deal, collecting hundreds of thousands of dollars in payoffs…
The 35-count indictment handed up by a federal grand jury in Tucson, Ariz., also accuses Renzi of separately embezzling corporate funds to bankroll his first House campaign.
The indictment makes Renzi the fourth sitting lawmaker to face federal charges since 2005 in the Justice Department’s continuing crackdown on public corruption, and it represents a fresh blow to Congressional Republicans struggling with numerous allegations of ethical wrongdoing in their ranks.
Renzi joins convicted GOP Reps. Randy “Duke” Cunningham of California and Robert Ney of Ohio, as well as Democratic Rep. William Jefferson of Louisiana, who is awaiting trial on bribery charges, as targets of Justice Department prosecution.
A carousel of political thugs. Step right up! Who’s next?
Yes, Renzi is Mr. Straight-Talk’s prez campaign co-chair in AZ.
Unfortunately the Democrats are just as bad. The same sh*t will happen with Democrats once they are back in control. We should send along a 60+ year old female busybody with each Congress critter and Senator to blog about their doings and keep them on the straight and narrow. These Washington a$$hats can not be trusted.
[Fixed. – ed.]
#2, Improbus,
Unfortunately the Democrats are just as bad.
Are they? So far the score is two Republican Congressmen convicted while there is one each Congressmen under indictment. I don’t know the defense for Renzi, but there is a good chance that Congressman Jefferson may actually beat the charge. That surely doesn’t sound like they are just as bad to me.
Let’s do the math.
Don’t forget that Tom Delay was indicted while a Republican Congressman.
Renzi is the second member of John McCain’s team to be indicted, joining Florida State Rep. Bob Allan.
Former Republican House Leader is close to indictment on bribery charges due to the Abramhoff scandal.
Lewis “Scooter” Libby’s case has been through the press enough.
David Safavian, head of the federal procurement policy at the Office of Management and Budget was arrested for bribery.
George Ryan, former Governor of Illinois is now doing time for bribery.
Bob Taft, Former Governor of Ohio is doing time for bribery and theft.
Then there is Adam Kikaid who set up a “mob hit” to gain control of a Cruise Ship line. Yup, he was a partner of Jack Abramhoff.
Compare to
Martha Stewart, Democrat. Did time for lying about her insider trading.
@Mister Catshit
Give it time. Absolute power corrupts absolutely. I think all the pecker heads in Washington need someone watching over their shoulder. Regardless of their party. I used to be a Republican (I couldn’t stand to be in the same party as the Shrub). Now, I am just disgusted most of the time.
The difference between the Republicans and the Democrats is not the prevalence of corruption: Both parties harbor way too many corrupt politicians. The difference is that when the corruption is so egregious that it’s brought to the public surface, the Republicans toss the bums out (pressure them to resign). The Democrats, on the other hand, nod, wink, and continue on with business as usual. Witness the fact that Jefferson is still in office, and that Harry Reid, who has a trail of dirty pocket-lining land deals at least as egregious as Renzi’s, is not only still in office, but is MAJORITY LEADER of the senate. Or look back a few years to Gary Studds, who was ultimately re-embraced by the Democrats after he admitted having sex with a minor age aide in his office.
After the news broke of the DOJ investigation – before Renzi’s 2006 reelection by the really sharp voters in Arizona – McCain decided he needed to help out his fellow Republikan. He recorded an endorsement that said:
“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.”
Term limits are the only answer to this ever growing problem. Without them, nothing will ever change.
Yes, Democrats,Republicans. Its all the same.
If it was true what they say. Our government should have been improved a long time ago.
Our government is as corupt as the city it resides in. Money goes in, but only half of it ever goes for anything.
#10, emailc
ha ha ha, since supper I’ve been working on a list of Republican to counter Kwadguy’s remark. You did a much better job. I guess now I’ll have to trim mine down a bit.
#6, Kwadguy,
Accusations against Harry Reid have abounded for years. They originate mostly from the right wing and are empty of substance. Yet they love to hear themselves talk so much they keep bringing them up. I’m just waiting for that mental midget MikeN to come on here and remind us all about some car accident back in 1969. Even you had to resort to Stubbs, a 27 yr/old affair where no laws were broken.
I could list another 20 Republican politicians that have either personally benefited or had their family and or friends benefit without trying hard. All from January 2001 to the present. But corrupt Democrats? Yup, lets go back 30 or 40 years and see what sticks.
You can get more balanced coverage here:
http://www.judicialwatch.org/blog
In general, if a politician’s party is not named in the first paragraph, he’s a Democrat.
I don’t find it consoling that even if their were more Republicans then bad Democrats. They are still running our country?? You are nieve to think corruption runs to one side though.We should all be ashamed that any one of them are corupt!
It does not say much for our country.
That’s how ideologues think. The my side rules, mentality. I dismiss them as idiots.
#12 – do you actually believe that crap? What a dim paranoid little world you live in.
#12, Philleep,
Judicial Watch is a muck racking outfit that embellishes a lot of what they do. BUT, on that first page the only two politicos accused of illegal activity WERE REPUBLICAN !!!
You guys can’t even do the “pot calling the kettle black” thing.