Rep. Rick Renzi says the FBI violated his constitutional rights as a Congressman under the Speech Or Debate Clause — the same argument other indicted politicians have made including Sen. Ted Stevens and Rep. William J. Jefferson.
By Dennis Wagner
The Arizona Republic
U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi was wiretapped by one of his former aides during a federal investigation into a land deal that led to the third-term Arizona congressman’s indictment on extortion and other charges.
The role of that congressional staffer and others is disclosed in a motion filed by Renzi’s attorneys, who seek to have much of the government’s evidence thrown out because they say the FBI violated constitutional shields protecting lawmakers from interference in their official actions.
The U.S. District Court motion says Joanne Keene, Renzi’s former legislative director, cooperated with the FBI by secretly recording phone conversations with her ex-boss concerning the land transaction.
The motion also alleges that FBI agents improperly questioned Keene and other ex-Renzi staffers, as well as one working for him at the time, about his role in the land-swap deal. The FBI then used that information to secure search warrants and a court-approved wiretap of the congressman’s phone, the motion says.
For Full Story
Read Renzi Motion To Dismiss #1
