Background

• Rick Renzi was born in Fort Monmouth, Monmouth County, N.J. on June 11, 1958.
• Graduated from Buena High School, Sierra Vista, Ariz.; B.S., Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Ariz.; 1980; J.D., Catholic University, Washington, D.C.
• He and his wife Roberta have 12 children together (!!) (Source: house.gov)

Career

• There he started his first of three Arizona-based small businesses.
• US House of Representatives, January 3, 2003-present
• Rep. Rick Renzi stepped down temporarily from the House Intelligence Committee on 19 Apr 2007, after the FBI raided his family's business in connection with an ongoing federal investigation.
• In Jan 2005, Renzi was named to a high-profile House committee that helps oversee the United States' intelligence operations, including the CIA, FBI and the NSA (Source: AZ Republic).

Recent Developments

• In Dec 2004, a Federal Election Commission audit determined that Renzi's campaign finances for his 2002 election campaign were illegal and that Renzi's campaign committee failed to report $39,000 in contributions received, $101,000 in expenditures, and other finances. Hundreds of thousands of dollars from his corporations was used to finance much of his campaign, a practice prohibited by law. Renzi contended the money was his own and was properly disclosed as personal loans to his campaign (Source: AZ Republic).
• In 2006, FBI agents launched an investigation into whether the congressman used his position to promote the sale of land owned by a business associate, James Sandlin. Renzi's AZ business was raided by agents on 19 April 2007. Renzi temporarily stepped down from the House Intelligence Committee the same day.
• Federal authorities in Arizona opened an investigation into Renzi's sponsorship of federal legislation that benefited his father’s employer, ManTech International Corp. The 2003 legislation (signed into law in Nov 2003) earmarked hundreds of millions of dollars to his father’s business (Source: AZ Star).
• In Sept. 2005, Citizens for Ethics and Responsibility in Washington listed Renzi as one of the "most corrupt" members of Congress (Source: CREW).
• On 22 Feb 2008, Renzi was indicted by a federal grand jury in Arizona on 35 federal criminal charges that include conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering extortion and insurance fraud. Renzi and an associate real estate investor allegedly entered into a land-exchange deal in Arizona in return for Renzi's support for federal legislation (Source: Reuters).

Additional Information

• Renzi is a close ally of Senator John McCain. He is a co-chair of McCain's campaign in Arizona. In June 2006, McCain sent out a fund-raising letter on Renzi's behalf (Source: The Nation).

Top 10 Interests Funding

(Showing contributions 2005-2008 House)

Indian gaming - $119,900
Attorneys & law firms - $71,434
Commercial banks & bank holding companies - $62,499
Retired - $57,200
Insurance agencies, brokers & agents - $55,046
Accountants - $46,850
Lobbyists & public relations - $36,408
Mortgage bankers & brokers - $36,350
Real estate - $32,011
Life insurance - $28,000
Total = $2,140,629
(Source: MAPLight.org)

Top 10 Organizations of Contributors

(Showing contributions 2005-2008 House)

RETIRED - $61,700
ATTORNEY - $22,784
BANK OF AMERICA - $15,000
INTERNATIONAL ASSN OF FIRE FIGHTERS - $13,500
FANNIE MAE - $13,000
NATL ASSN/INSURANCE & FINANCIAL ADVISORS - $13,000
PHELPS DODGE CORP - $12,750
CARPENTERS & JOINERS UNION - $12,500
PINNACLE WEST CAPITAL - $12,250
NATIONAL RESTAURANT ASSN - $12,000
Total = $2,140,629
(Source: MAPLight.org)