NYT: GOP Congressman Renzi From Arizona Is the Focus of an Inquiry

[DeepModem Mom]

Congressman From Arizona Is the Focus of an Inquiry
By DAVID JOHNSTON
Published: October 25, 2006

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....Mr. Renzi’s legislation, which was signed into law in November 2003, exempted the Fort Huachuca Army base in Arizona from maintaining water levels in the nearby San Pedro River, as base officials had agreed in a 2002 deal with the United States Fish and Wildlife Service. Environmentalists criticized Mr. Renzi’s measure, saying it threatened water levels in one of the last undammed rivers in the West and would benefit private contractors like ManTech that operated at the base and relied on its continued operation....

***

ManTech has more than $450 million in military contracts at the base, which include classified military work, as well as options for more than $1.1 billion in additional contracts, according to news reports about Mr. Renzi’s legislation. Employees of the company were the largest contributors to Mr. Renzi’s campaign in 2002 and the second-largest in 2004....

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/10/25/washington/25inquire.html

[saracat]

1. Ah! Yes! Our congressman from Az who has NEVER lived here?

The same one who is actually from Va. and has never lived elesewhere? Hmmm? Could it be?

[Webster Green]

2. I can barely keep up with all the investigations...

Damn!:o

[merh]

3. Oh no - a republican being investigated for corruption

involving cronism and military contracts - can you imagine :sarcasm:

If only we had a real government - more would be investigated for this type of crap. :grr:



THE FUDGE REPORT Exposing the Lengths the GOP will go to "Fudge" the Truth.

[kestrel91316]

4. OMFG. Not another one???? At this rate, there won't be enough

ReNAMBLAcans left by election day to fill the few seats they are going to win.............

Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip. Drip...........

[Desertrose]

5. Renzi is so awful.....

The man is not really even from Az. but is one of the 13th most corrupt members of Congress!!

He went into politics in debt and now he is *magically* debt free.

Another link from loftydonkey.


Good news...Ellen Simon, the Dem running against him is ahead in the polls.
ELLEN IS LEADING RENZI 50%-46% IN LATEST INDEPENDENT POLL!

www.ellensimonforcongress.com

DR

[The Backlash Cometh]

6. real estate investor.

Boy, does that send red flags up. What is it with the real estate industry? Is it one of those self-regulated industries, and that's why it attracts such ethically challenged people?

[tanyev]

7. He wouldn't be worthy of the name Republican if he didn't

use his influence to enrich his family and friends.