The Supreme Court has rejected an appeal from former Arizona Rep. Rick Renzi, meaning his conviction for public corruption, insurance fraud and racketeering will not be overturned.
Renzi, a Republican who served in Congress from 2003 to 2009, was sentenced to three years in prison after a jury found him guilty of 17 counts in 2013.
He argued unsuccessfully that his prosecution violated the Constitution’s speech-or-debate clause, which gives members of Congress privilege when being investigated.
Prosecutors used evidence that Renzi, who owned an insurance agency, misappropriated clients’ premiums to fund his congressional campaign. He was also accused of lying to regulators and clients to hide his actions.
(h/t Bloomberg)
