Congressman Indicted for Fraud, Extortion

Renzi's chief of staff called Charlton's chief spokesman after word of a possible indictment of Renzi was leaked to the press in October 2006 — just before the midterm election. Charlton's office reported the call to the Justice Department shortly before he was fired.

Renzi stepped down from his seats on House committees in April 2007 after the FBI raided his wife's insurance business, and he has said he will not seek re-election.

But House Majority Leader John Boehner, R-Ohio, urged Renzi to consider an earlier exit from office.

"The charges contained in this indictment are completely unacceptable for a Member of Congress, and I strongly urge Rep. Renzi to seriously consider whether he can continue to effectively represent his constituents under these circumstances," a statement from Boehner's office, released Friday afternoon, said. "I expect to meet with Rep. Renzi at the earliest possible opportunity to discuss this situation and the best option for his constituents, our Conference, and the American people."

Renzi, a father of 12, was a real estate developer in Arizona before being elected to Congress in 2002. He holds a degree in criminal justice and a law degree.