From Roll Call via Think Progress:
In a second blow to House Republicans this week, the FBI raided a business tied to the family of Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.) Thursday afternoon as part of an ongoing investigation into the three-term lawmaker.
Details of the raid on Patriot Insurance Agency in Sonoita, Ariz., were not immediately available. Renzi’s most recent financial disclosure form lists the business as an asset belonging to his wife, Roberta, and valued at $1 million to $5 million.
Little is known about the inquiries into Renzi’s activities, but according to media reports the Justice Department has been running a two-track investigation into Renzi regarding a land deal, as well as a piece of legislation he helped steer that may have improperly benefited a major campaign contributor. It was not immediately clear which investigation the raid pertained to, and neither his attorney nor his spokesman could be immediately reached for comment.
As a result of the raid, Renzi is stepping down from his seat on the House Intelligence Committee, according to a statement from his office obtained Thursday evening by Roll Call.
“Today, the FBI came to my family’s business to obtain documents related to their investigation,†Renzi said. “I view these actions as the first step in bringing out the truth. Until this matter is resolved, I will take a leave of absence from the House Intelligence Committee. I intend to fully cooperate with this investigation.â€
CREW is also reporting that an Arizona U.S.A. who was investigating Renzi was fired:
Last September, CREW named Rep. Rick Renzi as one of the most corrupt members of Congress in our report, “Beyond DeLay.” Last October, the Associated Press reported that Renzi was under federal investigation for a land deal. In December, Paul Charlton, the U.S. Attorney in Arizona who was investigating Renzi, was fired. Speculation is growing about whether the Renzi investigation led to Charlton’s dismissal
I believe we have more than coincidence here when we now have two attorneys who are involved in corruption cases against GOP congressmen losing their jobs. Considering how many lies Gonzales has been caught in, him saying that these were not connected is most likely just another lie.
We also find out a few more details on Doolittle’s “resignation” from the Appropriations Committee yesterday:
Doolittle, who was GOP conference secretary in the 109th Congress, voluntarily surrendered his seat on the coveted Appropriations panel. But GOP aides said Republican leaders made clear that if Doolittle failed to quit on his own, they would move to throw him off.
So it wasn’t as much a “resignation” as it was an agreement.
I believe the most ironic part of all this is the fact that these actions are coming on the same week Gonzales had to testify. It sounds like someone pulled some strings to get the ball moving faster.