Without comment on June 29, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to hear an appeal from Arizona’s disgraced former congressman, U.S. Rep. Richard “Rick” Renzi, regarding his conviction for extortion, fraud, conspiracy and racketeering. Renzi started his three-year prison sentence in February after years of legal maneuvering following his 2008 indictment.
The decision not to hear Renzi’s appeal affirmed the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals’ opinion that yes, Renzi must go to prison for his crimes committed against the people of Arizona.
The 57-page opinion reads like the screenplay for a “House of Cards” episode if Renzi was Frank Underwood’s less experienced, incompetent cousin attempting to dabble in the same world of political corruption.
According to the circuit court’s ruling, Renzi’s criminal activity started the day after he announced he was running for Congress. He didn’t even have the common courtesy to wait to get elected before “diverting cash from [his insurance company] to fund his congressional campaign,” defrauding customers of their insurance premiums to pay for his campaign.
When his customers started getting cancelation notices from the firms Renzi was supposedly paying on their behalf, he directed his staff to draw up fake insurance policies, assuring clients they were still covered when they were not.
Renzi was simultaneously conspiring in a land swap between a copper mining company and U.S. Forest Service, strong-arming the mining company to buy a virtually useless piece of property in Cochise County from a business associate so Renzi could pocket $700,000 from the deal.
Renzi’s lawyers attempted to claim the FBI investigation violated his privilege as a congressman under the U.S. Constitution’s Speech or Debate Clause, which extends to congressional staffers. However, in introducing his own legislative acts as a defense in the case, the court ruled his staffers were then open to questioning about his actions. It was their testimony that provided the evidence to prove Renzi’s corruption.
Renzi’s appeal to the Supreme Court was a last-ditch attempt to use an imaginary “get out of jail free” card, which the high court refused to hear.
Cynics aside, a member of Congress is an ennobled position in our republic, given special protections and privileges in the Constitution so that they can do their work on behalf of the people. The founders hoped members of Congress would be the most honorable and noble of all Americans, who would selflessly use their immense power as legislators and the voters’ confidence in their character to work for the common good to the benefit of both their constituents and the nation.
Renzi abused and soiled the founders’ gift for years, viewing it as just another means to fatten his pocketbook. Now convicted, Renzi must serve time for his crimes committed against the state and we, the voters.
Renzi must also be punished for disgracing the honor of our republic. The high court’s refusal to hear his appeal assures that those who violate the public’s trust must be punished for their abuse of power.
