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Justice Department Special Counsel Jack Smith is overseeing the current investigation into and indictment of Donald Trump. But as USA Today reported, Smith “built [his] reputation” in his previous role overseeing the prosecution of former Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.). And according to Renzi himself, in exclusive comments to PJ Media, there’s evidence tying Smith to illegal wiretaps, jury influencing, payoffs for false testimony, and other highly questionable behavior. The newly published allegations led Donald Trump to call Smith “deranged.” Renzi was convicted on bribery and extortion charges, to which he pleaded “not guilty,” and was later given a full presidential...

Over 14 years later, former Congressman Rick Renzi is still fighting for his innocence. He was wrongly imprisoned during the Obama administration by prosecutors and FBI agents who are part of the deep swamp. They got him convicted of attempting to conduct a land trade while in Congress that would have allegedly benefited him — but he didn’t even propose the trade and the judge ruled the land trade was in the “public interest.” Renzi served a 3-year prison term and was released, but he is not giving up on clearing his name. A few months ago, his attorneys filed...

Tucson Federal District Court Judge David Bury issued a decision on December 30 denying a retrial for imprisoned former Congressman Rick Renzi of Arizona, developments which I've been tracking over the last six months. Bizarrely, at the same time, Bury admitted in his nine-page opinion that virtually everything factual Renzi had asserted in his motion for a retrial regarding the prosecution's misconduct was true. The prosecution withheld exculpatory evidence from Renzi's defense — which likely would have changed the jury's mind — not just once, but multiple times. Some of it was not discovered until after the trial was over,...

The case of the corrupt prosecution against imprisoned former Congressman Rick Renzi continues to explode with new evidence of wrongdoing - literally every few weeks something else comes out. It is beginning to look like Fast and Furious as more information pours out implicating the government. As I've explained previously, the crux of the case against Renzi was he had proposed a federal land exchange that allegedly would have benefited himself. Evidence came out during the trial and especially afterward revealing this wasn't true. The FBI offered to give money to the government's key witness/"victim," Philip Aries, to change his...

Last Monday, Federal District Court Judge David Bury held an evidentiary hearing in Tucson to consider new evidence that prosecutorial wrongdoing took place during the criminal prosecution of imprisoned former Congressman Rick Renzi. Specifically, the judge considered whether the the FBI had offered money to the one "victim" Renzi had allegedly extorted to change his testimony and make it unfavorable toward Renzi in order to ensure a conviction. As the hearing was ending, the shocking bribery was exposed, Judge Bury told chief DOJ prosecuting attorney Gary Restaino he wrongly violated Renzi's rights. Who is Restaino and why was he so...

TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — A federal judge on Monday sentenced former U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi to three years in prison for convictions on public corruption, money laundering and other charges, capping a corruption case prosecutors said began more than a decade ago. U.S. District Judge David C. Bury also sentenced Renzi co-defendant James Sandlin to 18 months in prison, and ordered both men to pay fines. They are to begin their prison terms in January

Did administration leaks to the AP, Washington Post, and Times compromise an ongoing Justice investigation-thereby aiding Rick Renzi's re-election ?

WASHINGTON, Oct. 24 — Federal authorities in Arizona have opened an inquiry into whether Representative Rick Renzi introduced legislation that benefited a military contractor that employs his father, law enforcement officials said Tuesday. The officials said the inquiry was at an early stage and that no search warrants had been issued, suggesting that investigators had yet to determine whether there was a basis to open a formal investigation or empanel a grand jury. Mr. Renzi, 48, a Republican who represents the First Congressional District, is a former insurance executive and real estate investor who was first elected in 2002. Almost...

The 10 members are Reps. Bob Beauprez (Colo.), Mike Fitzpatrick (Pa.), Jim Gerlach (Pa.), Marilyn Musgrave (Colo.), Anne Northup (Ky.), Jon Porter (Nev.), Dave Reichert (Wash.), Rick Renzi (Ariz.), Rob Simmons (Conn.) and Mike Sodrel (Ind.).

Renzi takes a far-right turn By SETH MULLER Sun Staff Reporter 07/18/2004 To understand the philosophical divide between U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi and top Democratic challenger Paul Babbitt, you don't have to look any farther than the blue flag that flies outside Babbitt's home in Flagstaff. It's the United Nations flag, featuring olive branches that wrap around a depiction of the globe. Babbitt displays it along with the U.S. flag off his front porch. This stands in bold contrast with Renzi, the Flagstaff Republican who recently voted to end U.S. financial support of the U.N., which is estimated at $3...

To: Rep. Rick Renzi May 25, 2004 Apparently the media are missing out on some pertinent facts. This is a letter from Ray Reynolds, a medic in the Iowa Army National Guard, serving in Iraq: As I head off to Baghdad for the final weeks of my stay in Iraq, I wanted to say thanks to all of you who did not believe the media. They have done a very poor job of covering everything that has happened. Just so you can rest at night knowing something is happening in Iraq that is noteworthy, I thought I would pass this...

The first poll for the 1st Congressional District race, which is more than six months away, shows Republican incumbent Rick Renzi leading Democratic challenger Paul Babbitt by 11 percentage points. The scientific poll, conducted using a random sample of 611 likely voters in the district, is expected to serve as a baseline for Northern Arizona University's Social Research Laboratory, which plans to track the race through Nov. 2. The poll found 49 percent of likely voters would support Renzi, compared to Babbitt's 38 percent. Northern Arizona University's Social Research Laboratory released the results of its phone poll on Tuesday. The...

Renzi: Border help on the way this year BY BILL HESS Sierra Vista Herald/Review SIERRA VISTA, ARIZONA - U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi said Saturday that a technology curtain is coming down to stop the flow of illegal activities crossing from Mexico into the United States. Using a football analogy, the Republican who represents Arizona's District 1, which is mostly in the northern part of the state, said, "We are going to run a zone defense." As more high-tech equipment becomes available, it will be put out and used along the border, especially in Arizona, he told nearly 140 people who...

WASHINGTON, D.C. -- Strategists for Rep. Richard Gephardt's presidential candidacy are basing fragile hopes for the Democratic nomination on Howard Dean's money-rich campaign running out of funds as he contests every primary election. Chances for anybody to catch Dean hinge on the Jan. 19 Iowa caucuses. Polls show Dean ahead there but Gephardt within hailing distance. If Dean loses in Iowa or at least wins narrowly, his big war chest may be depleted by the heavy primary schedule ahead. Gephardt will not seriously contest Dean in New Hampshire on Jan. 27, counting on Sen. John Kerry slowing him down there....