Arizona Congressman Renzi indicted on racketeering charges.
CQPolitics.com (11/14) reports, "A federal grand jury on Thursday indicted Rep. Rick Renzi on eight additional charges, including racketeering and making false statements on his 2005 tax return. The expanded indictment also levies additional conspiracy and insurance fraud charges against Renzi, R-Ariz." Renzi was originally "accused of conspiring to commit insurance fraud with James W. Sandlin, a former business associate, in a land-swap scheme in his home state and with Andrew Beardall, formerly the general counsel of a Renzi-owned insurance agency. The new indictment adds a fourth defendant, accountant Dawayne Lequire, who worked at Renzi's insurance agency." Renzi is accused of captaining "a criminal enterprise for at least six years based on the misappropriation of insurance premiums."
The Washington Times (11/14) adds, "A three-term congressman who did not seek re-election this year, Mr. Renzi had pleaded not guilty."
