Trial for former Arizona congressman, 3 other men postponed until March 16

Former Arizona congressman’s trial postponed

TUCSON, Ariz. — The trial for former U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi of Arizona on money laundering, insurance fraud, racketeering and other charges has been postponed until March 16.

Renzi and three other men were scheduled to go to trial Jan. 20, but a federal judge reset the date this week after one of the defendants requested more time.

All four men have pleaded not guilty.

The former congressman faces 48 charges, many related to allegations that he engineered a swap of federally owned mining land to benefit himself and a former business partner who is a co-defendant. Other counts are related to allegations that Renzi raided his family insurance company’s accounts to fund an election campaign.

Renzi represented Arizona’s sprawling 1st Congressional District for three terms before declining to seek re-election in 2008.