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Politics : Just the Facts, Ma'am: A Compendium of Liberal Fiction -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Sully- who wrote (64291)	2/22/2008 2:25:48 PM
From: HPilot	Respond to of 90947

That may be due to how the NY Slimes wrote the story - to allow for plausible deniability for the intentional innuendo woven throughout the whole piece. That could be, because though I didn't take it that way, I could understand how some could. Actually in some other parts I did, but concluded that it didn't fit, so they must have meant the other.

To: Sully- who wrote (64291)	2/22/2008 2:33:09 PM
From: Sully-	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 90947

Note how Reuters identifies Renzi in the first word of the first sentence as a "Republican". Funny how they almost always forget to mention the party affiliation or bury it deep in the article when the criminal is a Democrat. Rep. Renzi indicted on fraud, finance charges WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Republican Rep. Richard Renzi of Arizona was indicted on 35 criminal counts, including conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering and official extortion stemming from land deals in his state, Justice Department officials said on Friday. The indictment stemmed from plans by Renzi and an associate, a real estate investor, to benefit from a land-exchange deal in Arizona in return for Renzi's support for necessary federal legislation, court documents said. "It was an object of the conspiracy for Renzi to enrich (his associate) and personally benefit himself," according to the 26-page indictment handed up by a federal grand jury in Phoenix that the Justice Department released in Washington. It also accused Renzi, a three-term congressman who was a state co-chair for Sen. John McCain's presidential campaign, of embezzling premiums from clients of an insurance business to fund his congressional campaign. Renzi, who maintained a solid conservative voting record since he was first elected to Congress in 2002, also was accused of concealing his receipt of more than $733,000 from the associate in 2005. His office in Washington was not commenting on the indictment, referring inquiries to his lawyer, Reid Weingarten, who was not immediately available. In August, Renzi announced he would not seek a fourth term in the House of Representatives, joining a growing list of Republicans who plan to leave after this year. Twenty-five House Republicans are either retiring, running for other office or were defeated in a primary election. Republicans lost control of Congress to Democrats in the 2006 elections, largely because of a string of scandals, many of them tied to convicted lobbyist Jack Abramoff. Last month, Republican Rep. John Doolittle of California, under investigation for ties to Abramoff, announced he would not seek re-election. He did so, party sources said, in response to pressure from Republican leaders. Assistant Attorney General Alice Fisher said, "These charges represent allegations that Congressman Renzi defrauded the public of his unbiased, honest services as an elected official." U.S. Attorney Diane Humetewa said, "Among the allegations contained in the indictment, Congressman Renzi misused his public office by forcing a land sale that would financially benefit himself and a business associate, and in so doing, he betrayed the trust of the citizens of Arizona." Renzi, who represents a district that includes Flagstaff, has cast votes against withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq while supporting a ban on same-sex marriage and developing an Alaskan wildlife reserve for oil exploration. He serves on committees that oversee the banking industry and natural resources and has focused much of his efforts in Congress on American Indian issues. Renzi stepped down from his seat on a House intelligence committee amid his legal problems. The former insurance company owner and land developer who owns an Arizona vineyard, was drawn into the continuing controversy over Bush administration firings of federal prosecutors. A top congressional aide to Renzi contacted a U.S. attorney in Arizona shortly before that prosecutor was fired. The aide reportedly contacted the prosecutor to inquire about a possible indictment against Renzi. Also indicted were two business associates of Renzi -- James Sandlin, a real estate investor, and Andrew Beardall. (Reporting by Randall Mikkelsen, James Vicini, Rick Cowan and Thomas Ferraro; Editing by Eric Walsh) news.yahoo.com