House Ethics Committee launches investigation of Renzi

A week after being indicted by the Justice Department on 35 counts ranging from wire fraud to money laundering, the House Ethics Committee has launched an investigation into the activities of Rep. Rick Renzi (R-1).

Read the text of the statement by the Committee of Standards and Conduct (Ethics).

Maria Weeg, executive director of the Arizona Democratic Party today issued a statement saying:

"The crimes that Rep. Renzi is accused of are tremendous violations of the public trust. We have the right to hold our elected officials to the highest standard of ethical behavior and this is so far outside that standard that he should have resigned a year ago, when the investigation started.  I ask him, once again, to resign from office immediately."

Despite numerous attempts, no one from Rep. Renzi's office could be contacted for a comment.