Former Arizona congressman seeks Trump pardon in corruption case
May 22, 2019, 5:40 PM
(Getty Images photo)
(Getty Images photo)
PHOENIX — A former U.S. representative from Arizona who was convicted in 2013 of extortion and racketeering is reportedly seeking a pardon from President Donald Trump.
According to the Arizona Daily Sun, a lawyer for Rick Renzi sent a letter to the U.S. Justice Department last month, also requesting an investigation.
The letter claims investigators illegally wiretapped conversations, concealed evidence and introduced false testimony at Renzi’s trial.
Renzi was convicted in 2013 of conspiring to use his congressional post to make companies buy a business associate’s land so a debt could be repaid to Renzi.
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He was released from federal prison in 2017 after serving three years.
A spokesman for Renzi says they have not yet received a response from the Justice Department.
It wouldn’t be the first time Trump pardoned a former Republican elected official from Arizona.
Trump pardoned former Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio’s criminal contempt of court conviction in 2017.
Arpaio was convicted of misdemeanor contempt for his disobedience of a court order to stop traffic patrols that targeted immigrants.
The pardon spared Arpaio a possible jail sentence.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
