Rick Renzi

Richard Renzi
Born:	June 11, 1958 Fort Monmouth, New Jersey
Charges:	Wire fraud, Conspiracy, Extortion, Racketeering, Money laundering
Sentence:	3 years
Facility:	FCI Morgantown
Status:	Pardoned

Richard "Rick" Renzi (born June 11, 1958) is a former American politician who served as the U.S. Representative for Arizona's 1st congressional district from 2003 to 2009. In June 2013, Renzi was convicted on 17 of 32 federal counts including wire fraud, conspiracy, extortion, racketeering, and money laundering. The charges stemmed from a scheme to use his congressional position to force companies to purchase land owned by a business associate as a condition for receiving his support on legislation. He was sentenced to three years in federal prison and served his full term before being released in January 2017. On January 20, 2021, President Donald Trump granted Renzi a full presidential pardon on his last day in office.

Summary

Rick Renzi was a rising star in Arizona Republican politics when he was elected to Congress in 2002. Representing a large, rural district in northern Arizona, he built a reputation as a conservative voice on natural resources and public lands issues. However, his congressional career was cut short by a federal corruption investigation that began in 2006.

Prosecutors alleged that Renzi used his position on the House Natural Resources Committee to extort land exchanges favorable to a business associate. The scheme involved pressuring organizations seeking federal land swaps to first purchase property from Renzi's associate, James Sandlin. Renzi was also convicted of embezzling insurance premiums from his family's insurance business to fund his first congressional campaign.

After a lengthy legal battle that included appeals to the Ninth Circuit and the Supreme Court, Renzi served his three-year sentence. His pardon came years after his release, following a campaign by supporters who argued that prosecutorial misconduct had tainted the case.

Background

Early Life and Education

Richard Renzi was born on June 11, 1958, at Fort Monmouth, New Jersey. He attended Arizona State University and obtained a law degree. He worked as an attorney and businessman before entering politics.

Business Career

Before entering Congress, Renzi owned and operated Patriot Insurance, an insurance agency based in Arizona. His handling of this business would later become central to the criminal charges against him.

Congressional Career

Election to Congress

In 2002, Renzi won election to represent Arizona's 1st Congressional District, a vast district covering much of northern Arizona including Flagstaff and parts of the Navajo Nation. He won reelection in 2004 and 2006.

Committee Assignments

Renzi served on the House Financial Services Committee and the House Natural Resources Committee. His position on the Natural Resources Committee gave him influence over federal land exchanges in Arizona—influence that prosecutors later alleged he abused for personal gain.

Decision Not to Seek Reelection

In 2008, amid the ongoing federal investigation, Renzi announced he would not seek a fourth term. He left Congress in January 2009.

Criminal Case

Investigation

Federal investigators began examining Renzi's activities in 2006. The investigation focused on land deals in Arizona and the funding of Renzi's 2002 congressional campaign.

Indictment

In 2008, Renzi was indicted on 35 federal counts related to extortion, wire fraud, money laundering, and other charges.

The Land Swap Scheme

Prosecutors alleged that Renzi conspired with a business associate, James Sandlin, to profit from federal land exchanges. According to the government, when organizations or companies approached Renzi seeking his support for land swaps with the federal government, Renzi demanded that they first purchase property owned by Sandlin as a condition for his assistance.

Campaign Finance Fraud

Renzi was also charged with embezzling insurance premiums from his family's insurance company, Patriot Insurance, to fund his 2002 congressional campaign. Prosecutors alleged that he took premiums paid by clients and used them for campaign expenses rather than purchasing the insurance coverage the clients had paid for.

Conviction

On June 12, 2013, a federal jury in Tucson, Arizona, convicted Renzi on 17 of 32 counts. The convictions included:

• Wire fraud
• Conspiracy
• Extortion
• Racketeering
• Money laundering

Sentencing

On October 28, 2013, Renzi was sentenced to three years in federal prison.

Appeals

Renzi appealed his conviction to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, arguing various legal errors at trial. The Ninth Circuit upheld the conviction. Renzi then petitioned the United States Supreme Court for certiorari, but the Supreme Court declined to hear the case.

Imprisonment

On February 27, 2015, Renzi reported to Federal Correctional Institution Morgantown in West Virginia to begin serving his sentence. He was released on January 6, 2017, after completing his term.

Presidential Pardon

On January 20, 2021—President Trump's last day in office—Trump granted Rick Renzi a full presidential pardon.

Support for Pardon

The pardon was supported by numerous Republican figures, including:

• Representative Paul Gosar
• Representative Tom Cole
• Former House Majority Leader Tom DeLay
• Former Representative Jack Kingston
• Former Representative Todd Tiahrt
• Former Representative John Doolittle
• Former Representative Duncan Hunter Sr.

Representative Gosar had publicly called for the pardon, arguing that the Department of Justice was "corrupt and inept" and that Renzi had been "convicted by corrupt DOJ prosecutors who fabricated evidence."

Prosecutorial Misconduct Claims

Supporters of Renzi's pardon cited a 119-page Inspector General complaint alleging prosecutorial misconduct by the team that prosecuted the case. The prosecution team was led by Jack Smith, who later became the Special Counsel investigating former President Trump.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What did Rick Renzi do?

Rick Renzi was convicted on 17 counts including wire fraud, conspiracy, extortion, racketeering, and money laundering. He used his congressional position to make companies buy a business associate's land as a condition for receiving his support on land swaps. He also embezzled insurance premiums from his company to fund his 2002 campaign. He served three years in federal prison.

Q: Was Rick Renzi pardoned?

Yes, President Trump granted Renzi a full pardon on January 20, 2021, his last day in office. The pardon came after Renzi had already served his three-year sentence. It was supported by numerous Republican congressmen who argued prosecutorial misconduct had tainted the case.

Q: How long was Rick Renzi's prison sentence?

Renzi was sentenced to three years in federal prison on October 28, 2013. He reported to FCI Morgantown in West Virginia on February 27, 2015, and was released on January 6, 2017, after completing his term. The pardon came in 2021, after he had already served his full sentence.

Q: What was Rick Renzi's congressional career?

Renzi served three terms as U.S. Representative for Arizona's 1st District from 2003 to 2009. He served on the House Financial Services and Natural Resources Committees. He chose not to seek reelection in 2008 amid the federal investigation.

Q: Did Rick Renzi appeal his conviction?

Yes. Renzi appealed to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals, which upheld the conviction. The Supreme Court declined to hear his case. Supporters later argued prosecutorial misconduct warranted clemency, citing a 119-page Inspector General complaint against the prosecution team led by Jack Smith.

See also

• Wire Fraud
• Money Laundering
• Presidential Clemency and Pardons
• Duke Cunningham