A federal appeals court has denied former Arizona Congressman Rick Renzi’s request for another hearing in his appeal of corruption, money laundering and other convictions.
Last month, a three-judge panel of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals upheld Renzi’s convictions after his lawyers argued prosecutors had violated a constitutional clause that grants members of Congress protection for their legislative acts.
Renzi asked a larger panel to consider his appeal, but the 9th Circuit denied that request. The former First District Republican was convicted of conspiring to use his government position to make two companies buy land owned by his former business associate so the associate could repay a debt he owed to Renzi.
Renzi served in Congress from 2003 until early 2009. He decided against running for re-election the prior year.
