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August 23, 2007
Arizona's Rep. Renzi to Retire
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 6:35 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Three-term Rep. Rick Renzi, an Arizona Republican facing
a federal inquiry into his family's insurance business, said Thursday he
will not seek re-election next year.
Renzi becomes the fifth GOP House member in the past month to announce
retirement plans, giving Democrats hopes of possibly picking up seats next
year that otherwise would not be in play. However, leaders of both parties
viewed Renzi as seriously damaged politically by the allegations against
him, and several Republicans had let it be known they hoped he would step
down.
''I will not be seeking re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in
2008,'' Renzi said in a brief statement released by the National Republican
Congressional Committee.
Renzi, 49, gave up his House Intelligence Committee seat in April after FBI
agents raided a Sonoita, Ariz., business owned by his wife, Roberta. Law
enforcement officials confirmed in October that they were scrutinizing a
land swap that netted Renzi's former business partner, friend and campaign
donor $4.5 million.
Renzi paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in back taxes while settling
charges that his businesses improperly paid for his first congressional
campaign.
He also became embroiled in the congressional investigation into the firing
of eight U.S. attorneys, including Paul Charlton of Arizona, after his chief
of staff in April acknowledged calling Charlton's office to ask about the
media reports related to the land deal. Lawmakers have questioned whether
some of the prosecutors were fired for being too effective at investigating
Republican political corruption.
Renzi won a third time last November, claiming 58 percent of the vote. His
district, which includes Flagstaff and Prescott, gave President Bush 54
percent of its vote in 2004, while 46 percent went to Democrat John Kerry.
Arizona's Rep. Renzi to Retire
By THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Filed at 6:35 p.m. ET
WASHINGTON (AP) -- Three-term Rep. Rick Renzi, an Arizona Republican facing
a federal inquiry into his family's insurance business, said Thursday he
will not seek re-election next year.
Renzi becomes the fifth GOP House member in the past month to announce
retirement plans, giving Democrats hopes of possibly picking up seats next
year that otherwise would not be in play. However, leaders of both parties
viewed Renzi as seriously damaged politically by the allegations against
him, and several Republicans had let it be known they hoped he would step
down.
''I will not be seeking re-election to the U.S. House of Representatives in
2008,'' Renzi said in a brief statement released by the National Republican
Congressional Committee.
Renzi, 49, gave up his House Intelligence Committee seat in April after FBI
agents raided a Sonoita, Ariz., business owned by his wife, Roberta. Law
enforcement officials confirmed in October that they were scrutinizing a
land swap that netted Renzi's former business partner, friend and campaign
donor $4.5 million.
Renzi paid hundreds of thousands of dollars in back taxes while settling
charges that his businesses improperly paid for his first congressional
campaign.
He also became embroiled in the congressional investigation into the firing
of eight U.S. attorneys, including Paul Charlton of Arizona, after his chief
of staff in April acknowledged calling Charlton's office to ask about the
media reports related to the land deal. Lawmakers have questioned whether
some of the prosecutors were fired for being too effective at investigating
Republican political corruption.
Renzi won a third time last November, claiming 58 percent of the vote. His
district, which includes Flagstaff and Prescott, gave President Bush 54
percent of its vote in 2004, while 46 percent went to Democrat John Kerry.
