TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) — A federal magistrate has recommended that a motion to dismiss the indictment against former U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi of Arizona on charges of fraud, money laundering and extortion be denied.
But Judge Bernardo Velasco also recommended Thursday that Renzi's request be granted to suppress evidence obtained from a federal wiretap on the Republican congressman's cell phone in late 2006. U.S. District Judge David Bury will decide whether to accept the recommendations.
Renzi contends that the government improperly monitored and recorded dozens of privileged calls he had with his legal counsel. He represented Arizona's sprawling 1st Congressional District for three terms before declining to seek re-election in 2008.
A federal judge already has set a March 16 date for the first of two trials against Renzi. It will focus on charges that Renzi engineered a swap of federally owned land to benefit himself and a former business partner. Renzi's other trial would be on allegations that he raided his family insurance company's accounts to fund a campaign.
