The Phoenix New Times has a
blockbuster story that just went online on Rep. Rick Renzi's shaddy land swap legislation to benefit a business partner of his who had funnelled $200,000 to Renzi's campaign in what the FEC has already concluded are impermissable funds.
The first Congressional District in Arizona was already considered competitive (Bush came to raise money for Renzi last week) but this scandal adds to the growing perception that Renzi is in Congress for himself. (He has already held a place of honor on CREW's 13 most corrupt representatives.)
Throughout the story, Renzi's story changes from what the author identifies as a straight up lie to a half-truth. The full story is here.
The reporter writes:
In a 45-minute telephone interview with New Times about the land proposal, Renzi sounded frequently irritated and sometimes angry. He insisted that he'd never had a conflict of interest and repeatedly questioned why the aborted deal was worth writing about.
To answer the congressman's question, this aborted land deal -- the details of which came to light just weeks before the general election -- is not the first time Renzi's dealings with James Sandlin have raised eyebrows. According to a Federal Elections Commission audit, it was the profits of a land sale Renzi made to Sandlin that partly funded Renzi's election in 2002.
You wouldn't have to be a conspiracy theorist to question whether Renzi's support of a bill to obtain Sandlin's acreage in a congressionally sanctioned land swap was an attempt to return the favor.
Renzi insists it wasn't. But either way, it's definitely news.
The Democrat in the district, Ellen Simon, has aleady run an impressive campaign.
Can we:
1. Find out more about Sandlin and his interest in the legislation mentioned?
2. See what other favorable legislation Renzi has pushed to benefit his business partner and corporate-cash-funneler?