Posted on 10/26/2006 2:53:44 PM PDT by CedarDave
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 from the start, he has been a target of citizen watchdog groups who have accused him of ethical laxity in office.
Law enforcement officials said that the most serious accusation involved Mr. Renzi’s sponsorship of legislation in 2003 that appeared to indirectly benefit the ManTech International Corporation, a communications company based in Virginia that employs Mr. Renzi’s father, Eugene, a retired Army general, as executive vice president.
Representative Renzi’s office did not return a reporter’s telephone calls on Tuesday to discuss the inquiry. In the past, Mr. Renzi has dismissed questions about whether his efforts aided ManTech, saying it did not need any assistance from him.
(Excerpt) Read more at nytimes.com ...
Arizona'a October surprise? Even if no smoke is there, the perception of possible wrongdoing will stick.
Anyone ever seen the NY Slimes report of the 56 Congressional Democrats facing ethics or criminal investigations?
This is an "at risk" seat.
Let's see, use political influence to change zoning laws so you can make make 1.1 million dollars, not a big deal.
Introduce legislation that may or may not benefit a contractor who your father in law works for, well that is corruption at the highest levels.
No, Johnnie.....but they are being WAY to obvious, reporting these investigations in the last month.
BTW..who in the government is giving them the ammo??
By the way, the Dem in this race: Simon, is not blemish free: "Renzi and Simon have both faced their share of scandal accusations. In 2004, a Federal Election Commission audit found Renzi’s 2002 campaign failed to report $39,000 in contributions and $101,000 in expenditures, money Renzi claimed was a personal loan to his campaign, not an illegal donation from his corporation. Renzi has since settled the claim and been cleared by the FEC. Simon, meanwhile, has been the focus of a more personal financial scandal: In July, she and her husband filed a libel suit against his ex-wife after the Toronto woman accused him of owing hundreds of thousands of dollars in child support."
http://www.capitaleye.org/hotraces.asp?txtState=AZ&cycle=2006#AZ01
Democrat Ellen Simon, the former president of the Cleveland, Ohio, chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and a newcomer to Arizona. According to campaign finance information available Oct. 16, Simon had put in $525,000 of her own money for her campaign, making up 56 percent of her total receipts. She has also brought in support from businesses in her former home state. The Republican Party has again come to Renzi’s aid with campaign visits from President Bush, Arizona Sen. John McCain, and former U.S. House speaker Newt Gingrich. In addition, nearly $200,000 of Renzi’s campaign funds came from the political action committees of other members of Congress, according to figures available on Sept. 11. Renzi, a member of the House Financial Services Committee, has also received substantial backing from the insurance and financial services industries.
http://www.capitaleye.org/hotraces.asp?txtState=AZ&cycle=2006#AZ01
Before this news, Barone listed Renzi's seat as lean GOP.
I wonder how many in this district know this?
"Democrat Ellen Simon, the former president of the Cleveland, Ohio, chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union and a newcomer to Arizona."
That is one way that Chris Bell helped to get Tom Delay out of the House.
He had already been defeated....so, during the last month or so of his term...before he left for good....he filed 2-3 ethics complaints against Delay..
And, I have not doubt that he was with Ronnie Earle the DA in Texas.
This is just more dim lies and trying to trash reps just before the election. It doesn't matter to them if it's true or not--just throw the mud and hope the sheeple believe it.
This guy is a great congressman and a good family man--12 kids who he worships. His father, who they are also trying to slime, is a retired two star general.
I hope this type of crap backfires on the dims big time!!
Clinton holdovers
Everyone in the state knows that Ellen Simon worked for the ACLU. The Renzi TV commercials mention it over and over, along with the fact that the ACLU supports NAMBLA.
Wow, what a shocking surprise that the "law enforcement officials" in the article have no names. Also, if the news stories on the local radio stations are true, the "federal authorities" here have yet to confirm that any investigation is underway. So I guess the lefties have no problem skirting around the edge of the truth, as usual.
Yeah...and Barone is predicting a Dem takeover...blech
Barone doesn't know crap about that district...Heavily Mormon, includes Prescott (the home of Ruger), resource based industry (ranching/lumber/mining)..the only liberal nuttiness is in Flagstaff/Prescott. An ex-ACLU gun grabber doesn't play very well there.
Citizens for Ethics/Responsibility (Soros) is behind this (according to the paper)... no shock since Soros and Dean spent heavy two years ago to replace Renzi with a Babbit brother.
What bugs me the most is these people haven't said boo about Harry Reid and he did benefit his investors to HIS benefit and has been doing so regularly.. his list is long and dirty and Citizens just looks the other way and goes after people like Renzi.
I'd be shocked it the Flagstaff paper covers her background like they will this investigation.
Renzi has been running this info in all his ads.
“This guy is a great congressman and a good family man—12 kids who he worships. His father, who they are also trying to slime, is a retired two star general.”
Newsflash: He just announced he’s retiring.
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