Renzi Trial Delayed at Least Until September
Former Rep. Rick Renzi (R-Ariz.) will not face trial on corruption charges until at least mid-September, after a federal judge agreed Monday to attorneys’ requests to once again delay the court date to address pretrial motions, according to the Arizona Daily Star.Renzi is charged in a 44-count indictment that alleges the former Member used his legislative position to push a land deal to benefit a former business partner and also embezzled money from his insurance firm to finance his first campaign.Monday’s decision marks the second time this year the former House lawmaker’s trial date has been pushed back to allow both defense and prosecution attorneys to work on pretrial motions. In January, a March court date was scratched and rescheduled for June. That date was canceled Monday.In pretrial proceedings, Renzi’s attorneys have sparred with federal prosecutors over whether the government evidence-gathering in the case violated the Constitution’s Speech or Debate Clause, which protects lawmakers from prosecution for legislative activity.