By Justin Rood

Feb 22, 2008 1:53pm

2nd McCain Official to Face Federal Charges

When Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz., was indicted today on fraud, conspiracy and money laundering charges, he became the second official for the John McCain presidential campaign to face federal charges. Renzi, a co-chair of McCain’s Arizona campaign, joins Bob Allen, a Florida state representative who was busted last July for soliciting sex in a public bathroom, on the short – but growing – list of volunteer officials to Sen. McCain’s White House bid. Allen, co-chair of McCain’s Florida effort, was convicted in November and sentenced to a fine and six months’ probation. Together, Renzi and Allen appear to put McCain in the lead of White House contenders with support from federally indicted officials. McCain’s competitor for the Republican nomination, former Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee, has not been reported to have any campaign officials or major fundraisers facing federal charges. The Democratic challengers are hardly crime-free, of course. An apparently tireless fundraiser for Hillary Clinton’s bid, Norman Hsu, was revealed last fall to be a wanted felon. Hsu had reportedly raised over $1 million for Hillary, and lesser amounts for Barack Obama and other Democrats. Obama has in the past enjoyed the generous financial support of indicted businessman Antoin "Tony" Rezko, although the Chicago-area entrepreneur has reportedly given no money to Obama’s presidential campaign. Obama has given back nearly $150,000 in earlier donations from Rezko and his associates. For Congress-watchers, Renzi’s indictment is a separate milestone: He is the fourth lawmaker since 2005 to be indicted or plead guilty. He was preceded by former Reps. Randy "Duke" Cunningham, R-Calif.; Bob Ney, R-Ohio; and William Jefferson, D-La. Click Here for Full Blotter Coverage.

User Comments

You can judge a politician by the company they keep, remember that.

Posted by: Patriot2008 | February 22, 2008, 2:17 pm 2:17 pm

What a misleading story. You have the journalistic integrity of the New York Times if you are trying to connect McCain to Renzi’s troubles. I live in Renzi’s district, and his problems have nothing to do with McCain.

Posted by: Enrique J. | February 22, 2008, 2:22 pm 2:22 pm

Renzi (R)
Cunningham (R)
Ney (R)
Jefferson (D).
The ratio of corruption is 3 indicted republicans for every one indicted Democrat. Republicans win again!

Posted by: AppeaseThis | February 22, 2008, 2:28 pm 2:28 pm

Not much of a surprise here. When you put the NYT article together with McCain’s sworn deposition from a 2002 lawsuit on the same subject, it becomes obvious that McCain has now gone into “I don’t recall” mode. Nice job neocons….really nice. You’ve just stuck the GOP with a walking talking disaster. Will this one be referred to as: Keating-6 ?

Posted by: Don | February 22, 2008, 2:29 pm 2:29 pm

Not to forget Ron Paul — whose pristine Congressional conduct makes McCain look like a Boss Tweed. I can’t imagine what would make the RPC support McCain…other than gaining the support of that now dedicated Republican, Joe Lieberman.

Posted by: L.Step | February 22, 2008, 2:30 pm 2:30 pm

Ron Paul is still very much in the race, Great journalism.

Posted by: Bob | February 22, 2008, 2:34 pm 2:34 pm

He does not have a good track record of picking people around him. How would he ever put a cabinet together?

Posted by: John D, Mishawaka, IN | February 22, 2008, 2:37 pm 2:37 pm

IM TOO DISGUSTED TO EVEN MAKE A COMMENT GOD BLESS AMERICA. WE WILL NEED ALL THE BLESSINGS WE CAN GET

Posted by: dmsc | February 22, 2008, 2:39 pm 2:39 pm

Ron Paul – “The Clean Alternative”
Anybody who voted for McCain had to be brain dead not to realize what a sleazy politician he is.
C’mon America. Cut it out.
Vote for a new America. For for real change. Not the same old junk with Hillary, Obama, Huckabee and McCain.

Posted by: Angelo | February 22, 2008, 2:47 pm 2:47 pm

Seems that John McCain has larger issues then what the New York Times reported on. This is large problem for him to address. If he hired this man to help his Presidential race, what type of people would he put in his cabinet?

Posted by: Jeanne021556 | February 22, 2008, 2:49 pm 2:49 pm

What’s the matter Ross? Worried McCain might actually win?

Posted by: Neo Politicus | February 22, 2008, 2:51 pm 2:51 pm

How long until ABC takes a REAL look at the cozy relationship McCain HAS
with Congessman Renzi ???

Posted by: Leprkin | February 22, 2008, 2:52 pm 2:52 pm

The Truth Will Set You free!

Posted by: The Truth | February 22, 2008, 2:59 pm 2:59 pm

Mc Cain is a fake and phony with his family values, sorry brunnettes his taste is blondes.

Posted by: Dennis Cohen | February 22, 2008, 3:00 pm 3:00 pm

McCain only needs 55 more to go and he will tie the clean-as-snow Clinton administration.
Any chance of a new Civil War in the USA. We get to play with nukes this time.

Posted by: Jim T | February 22, 2008, 3:04 pm 3:04 pm

Surprise,surprise! Another GOP crook,what’s that make a few hundred in the past few years? It seems most GOP political people are crooks,perverts or both. Anyone who votes GOP is voting against true American values. GOP values are Mafia family values! Wake up GOP sheep please! Your supporting criminal acts!

Posted by: AJ | February 22, 2008, 3:06 pm 3:06 pm

OUR LOVELY CORRUPT Government… I’M SO NOT PROUD

Posted by: Squierghia74 | February 22, 2008, 3:06 pm 3:06 pm

Still wishing we could take those pensions away from people convicted of a felony!

Posted by: Leslie | February 22, 2008, 3:08 pm 3:08 pm

unfortunately, this is another sad day for true republicans…. because true fiscal conservative republicans have no one in the current republican leadership representing them… true republicans have been replaced by bullies, thugs, and greedy corporate welfare apologists… true republican ethics have been replaced by the mccains and bushes of the republican party… mccain will be crushed in november and the republicans will withdraw for quite some time… hopefully the true ethical republicans will take their party back from these criminals

Posted by: earthisnotflat | February 22, 2008, 3:09 pm 3:09 pm

Finally a report that shows the ever so righteous lately Democrats are not all lily white. The diference is the Dem corruption never makes the headlines. Hello Clinton, Obama, and Diane Feinstein/MILCOM?

Posted by: Bill | February 22, 2008, 3:09 pm 3:09 pm

John McCain on how he mislead voters during the 2000 campaign on the issue of the Confederate Flag, from his 2002 memoir, Worth the Fighting For:
“By the time I was asked the question for the fourth or fifth time, I could have delivered the response from memory. But I persisted with the theatrics of unfolding the paper and reading it as if I were making a hostage statement. I wanted to telegraph to reporters that I really didn’t mean to suggest I supported flying the flag, but political imperatives required a little evasiveness on my part. I wanted them to think me still an honest man, who simply had to cut a corner a little here and there so that I could go on to be an honest president.
I think that made the offense worse. Acknowledging my dishonesty with a wink didn’t make it less a lie. It compounded the offense by revealing how willful it had been. You either have the guts to tell the truth or you don’t. You don’t get any dispensation for lying in a way that suggests your dishonesty.”

Posted by: D | February 22, 2008, 3:13 pm 3:13 pm

What is more telling than their support of McCain, is that these men were both elected GOP lawmakers. It is one thing to receive an unsolicited contribution from a wanted felon or even from a gangster, but it is quite a different thing when an elected official, sworn to server the public good, breaks the law. Given the history of scandal over the past several years, this all says much more about the GOP than about McCain personally. Lincoln would puke.

Posted by: Jordan | February 22, 2008, 3:34 pm 3:34 pm

McCain on lying about the Confederate Flag in the 2000 campaign, from his memoir “Worth the Fighting For”, 2002: “I wanted them to think me still an honest man, who simply had to cut a corner a little here and there so that I could go on to be an honest president. I think that made the offense worse. Acknowledging my dishonesty with a wink didn’t make it less a lie. It compounded the offense by revealing how willful it had been. You either have the guts to tell the truth or you don’t. You don’t get any dispensation for lying in a way that suggests your dishonesty.”

Posted by: D | February 22, 2008, 3:35 pm 3:35 pm

The operative word here is “volunteer”. They aren’t on any payroll for McCain.

Posted by: Amber | February 22, 2008, 3:35 pm 3:35 pm

Gonzo to McCain “I do not recall” see how easy it is to say. Your not really lying because you can’t remember the exact minute of the day this occurred. So when you’ve been caught with pants down – just say “With all due respect I do not recall.

Posted by: thelastword | February 22, 2008, 3:36 pm 3:36 pm

22 most corrupt pol’s
Sen. Pete V. Domenici (R-NM)
Sen. Mitch McConnell (R-KY)
Sen. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK)
Sen. Ted Stevens (R-AK)
Rep. Ken Calvert (R-CA)
Rep. John T. Doolittle (R-CA)
Rep. Tom Feeney (R-FL)
Rep. Doc Hastings (R-WA)
Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-CA)
Rep. William J. Jefferson (D-LA)
Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA)
Rep. Gary G. Miller (R-CA)
Rep. Alan B. Mollohan (D-WV)
Rep. Timothy F. Murphy (R-PA)
Rep. John P. Murtha (D-PA)
Rep. Steve Pearce (R-NM)
Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ)
Rep. Harold Rogers (R-KY)
Rep. David Scott (D-GA)
Rep. Jerry Weller (R-IL)
Rep. Heather A. Wilson (R-NM)
Rep. Don Young (R-AK)
Dishonorable mentions
Sen. Larry E. Craig (R-ID)
Sen. David Vitter (R-LA)
Republicans are the most corrupt by a long shot…

Posted by: orenishi | February 22, 2008, 3:37 pm 3:37 pm

Seems a lot of republicans are in denial over the fact that the candidate they selected is going to be wearing cement boots during the general election. My goodness! To have fallen from so high (the entire party) to the level the Republicans now exist on. One can only wonder if ANY Republican has integrity.
Give me ‘inexperience’ over this sort of garbage any day. The only thing you guys can be hoping for is that Obama wins, because he won’t go dirty. This sort of mess would provide steak and potato for the Clintons.

Posted by: Kitty | February 22, 2008, 3:38 pm 3:38 pm

Posted by: orenishi | February 22, 2008, 3:41 pm 3:41 pm

What a SCUMBAG…MONEY meant MORE to him than his 12 children…What a nice Roman Catholic boy..NOT!…I hope they throw the book at him and send him away for a LONG time.

Posted by: jjarden | February 22, 2008, 3:43 pm 3:43 pm

honestly, who could possibly trust a republican after 8 years of Bush #2, 4 years of Bush #1 and 8 years of Reganomics.
I would like to believe that Americans are not that stupid, but I’ve thought that before, and yet here we sit with Bush and Cheney still.

Posted by: Americans who view Liberal as a positive | February 22, 2008, 3:48 pm 3:48 pm

Just look back at the Keating five situation. Can you honestly say that you’re surprised that “suddenly” McCain is dirty?

Posted by: newztixr | February 22, 2008, 3:53 pm 3:53 pm

Some republicans seem to be in denial over the fact that the candidate they selected may be wearing lead boots during the general election. The only thing you guys can be hoping for is that Obama wins, because he won’t go dirty. This sort of mess would provide steak and potato for the Clintons.

Posted by: One more time | February 22, 2008, 3:56 pm 3:56 pm

Does the Keating Five ring a bell to anyone? Can’t imagine why people are surprised that McCain and his cronies are crooked.

Posted by: tixMoff | February 22, 2008, 3:57 pm 3:57 pm

Looks like Hilliary and John better start bailing cause their ships are sinking… Anybody want to vote for somebody else yet???

Posted by: cba | February 22, 2008, 3:59 pm 3:59 pm

Gotta love the criminals we put in Congress!! Makes you wonder what the REAL requirement is for being a politician. But for a couple of wrong decisions, even Bundy could have been a Senator!!

Posted by: Namako OH3 | February 22, 2008, 3:59 pm 3:59 pm

Of course, Hillary and company have over 40 such criminal “associates” on their Christmas Card list… Which makes McCain’s two, and Obama’s one pretty PALE in comparison.

Posted by: Namako OH3 | February 22, 2008, 4:01 pm 4:01 pm

Birds of a feather flock together. Fellow conservative Repubulicans, please look at who McCain’s circle of friends are before you choose him.

Posted by: Tess | February 22, 2008, 4:13 pm 4:13 pm

Given the dearth of integrity in this beauty pageant of an election I am just so surprised that the American people do not rise up and demand honesty and personal fortitude in their “elected” officials. From all the Clinton history to Obama and his Rezco ties to John McCain and his corruption and personal lack of integrity history to Huckabee and his “parting gifts”, it is a wonder that the Sports and movie deluded public doesn’t just overthrow this packaged nonsense and insist on true representative government

Posted by: GM | February 22, 2008, 4:14 pm 4:14 pm

Ron Paul is the only one in this race with a clean record, with the right vision and experience to restore our right, liberties, safety and reputation in the world! The military has spoken, (look who they are donating to) Support our troops by giving them a leader they can trust and believe in! This world would be a MUCH better place with Ron Paul as our leader! Just research him for yourselves. That is all I ask!

Posted by: Ron Paul is clean! | February 22, 2008, 4:16 pm 4:16 pm

Dirty runs in McCains’ family as well. Was not his father instrumental in the covering up of the attack on the USS Liberty?

Posted by: tim osman | February 22, 2008, 4:17 pm 4:17 pm

What ever happened to INTEGRITY in reporting the FACTS, CORRECTLY?
My goodness, no wonder this nation is going to hell in a hand-basket. TRY “reporting” the truth, not SLAMMING, THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, John McCain!!!!!!!!!!! SHAME!

Posted by: WHAT A JOKE | February 22, 2008, 4:17 pm 4:17 pm

Well, now we see the chink in the armor. McCain is old Washington, an insider, bought and paid for. His rhetoric has started sounding more like that of Bush and Xenophobic NeoCons.

Posted by: Stitch | February 22, 2008, 4:18 pm 4:18 pm

i am not suprised that some libs are now conserned about dems eating their own young, keep up the good work you Obama nuts are a reflection of all that is good in this country?

Posted by: liz Norton | February 22, 2008, 4:19 pm 4:19 pm

are most of you for Obama and not Clinton … who will vote for clinton if she wins

Posted by: liz Norton | February 22, 2008, 4:27 pm 4:27 pm

Birds of a feather flock together. Fellow conservative Repubulicans, please look at who McCain’s circle of friends are before you choose him.

Posted by: Tess | February 22, 2008, 4:32 pm 4:32 pm

What a joke. it’s what I have been saying all along. When you put these “wanna-be businessmen” in office you get a bunch of back door crooks. Republicans applaud their friends when they get away with breaking the law…but claim to be so morally RIGHT when it comes to basic issues and upholding the law. This is why we should not be electing ANYONE who is in business into office. If you run these offices like a business…you are bound to get BAD APPLES…cheating.
The funnier part…why are so many lying and law breaking people affiliated with Mccain??? Only a Republican can try and weasel their way out of a poor association like this. It’s wrong.
IF Ken Star was right to go after Clinton for a consentual relationship with a “unclean” woman…then we should investigate Mccain. I can hear these red pigs squealing already. Hypocrits!

Posted by: brian gregory | February 22, 2008, 4:37 pm 4:37 pm

Nice photoshop job on the image with McCain

Posted by: Wang | February 22, 2008, 4:41 pm 4:41 pm

Yeah, many of the lobbyists on the McCain
staff aren’t being paid; they’re ‘volunteering’…so tell me that John ain’t going to repay them if he wins…I dare you. He’s using the typical, classic
neocon tactic; do what you do and deny you do it, then accuse your accuser of what you say you’re not doing.

Posted by: ted | February 22, 2008, 4:49 pm 4:49 pm

The RON PAUL Republicans are gonna start trying to FIX the GOP.

Posted by: s35wf | February 22, 2008, 4:53 pm 4:53 pm

There is only one republican candidate in the race, who has the character, integrity and voting record to be president and that is Ron Paul. Even our military supports him out of all the Republican and Democrat candidates. The military donated the most money to Ron Paul…check it out.

Posted by: Paula | February 22, 2008, 5:17 pm 5:17 pm

Republicans – it’s not too late to put a man of integrity in the White House. Let Huckabee debate McCain, Obama & Hillary! He’ll not only win but DOMINATE the debate.

Posted by: Open your eyes | February 22, 2008, 5:27 pm 5:27 pm

The only honest politician in this race is Ron Paul. You will be doing yourself and America a dis-service if you don’t go investigate all of their backgrounds yourself and draw your own conclusion instead of listening to the infonewsmercials you see on TV. There is a reason they call it the BOOB TOOB.

Posted by: PrincipledAmerican | February 22, 2008, 5:33 pm 5:33 pm

The list is “short but growing”? So it was one person (which isn’t even a list), and today it became two. Do you have information that it’s continuing its growth or is that merely hopeful speculation?
I see this in global warming stories all the time – you presume the continuation of a trend, when no such presumption is logical, and report is as fact.

Posted by: Sterling | February 22, 2008, 5:47 pm 5:47 pm

Isn’t it funny how “anti-Lobbyist” McCain is…and wants you to think he is…but virtually EVERY ONE of his major campaign executives…dozens of them…are LOBBYISTS for giant companies?

Posted by: wilder5121 | February 22, 2008, 6:41 pm 6:41 pm

LoL, Foot stamping mor LOL, it’s already started, Can’t the REBUBLICANS yes the REBUBLICANS stay clean and simple. more LOL, this makes my day. hehe haha, hehe, haha, If the republicans win again then, GOD HELP THIS COUNTRY. we would then need it.

Posted by: AdeebN. | February 22, 2008, 7:59 pm 7:59 pm

How could anyone support McCain? Anyone who supports McCain must be doing so because they know he will be easily defeated by either communist candidate. Poor people love communism, can’t argue that.
and you owe it to yourself and the future of America to check out Ron Paul, us Ron Paul supporters are not just saying this, we have done our research and we know he is the only true candidate worthy of representing our country. Notice I didn’t say running our country. Because it should be the people that run the country, not the politicians

Posted by: Jason Schade | February 22, 2008, 8:14 pm 8:14 pm

None of us are perfect. But, I think when you run for public office you need to make sure you have a clean slate. It is not surprising that the Conservatives are outright refusing to vote for McClain and shouting it out on radio talk shows – They suspect him.

Posted by: Uretha | February 22, 2008, 11:10 pm 11:10 pm

From the first time I knew Renzi, he has always been decent. The democrats are at it again. I never knew how dirty politics was in general until I got personally involved. The stories I could tell. NOTHING SURPRISES ME! Rick, you continue to have my support! Don’t resign!!!

Posted by: Susan | February 22, 2008, 11:32 pm 11:32 pm

This is only the tip of the McCain iceberg. Remember the swift boat veterans..

Posted by: Jay | February 23, 2008, 12:05 am 12:05 am

According to the Donor List of Hillary Clinton, Norman Hsu is a fashion industry executive first and foremost and a political fundraiser secondly.

Posted by: MiJonal | February 23, 2008, 1:58 am 1:58 am

Many of you bloggers have asked who Mc Cain, will choose for his cabinet members. I have the answer: His first wife . his second mistress who became his second wife and the cloned third mistress and all of his lobby clan. The new cabinet will all be made by Mattell!! E.H

Posted by: Ellen Harris | February 23, 2008, 2:20 am 2:20 am

Yes, the national Republican Party has basically become an organized crime syndicate. But what about Obama’s HOUSE. Did he give that back to Tony Rezko, too?
A man now indicted for (essentially) bribing Democratic officials in Illinois put up over $600,000 (through his wife) to help Barack and Michelle by their $2 million dream home. I really can’t imagine what they could possibly say about that to dispel the appearance of impropriety. And isn’t the whole episode a bit too close for comfort to how it all started to unravel for Randall “Duke” Cunningham?

Posted by: Bill B. | February 23, 2008, 11:34 am 11:34 am

Dang, this guy looks a lot like JOE SCARBOROUGH…CREEPY…karl rover must be cloning these clowns!!

Posted by: daddyblue | February 25, 2008, 9:17 am 9:17 am

I don’t see the American flag lapel pin on either of these guys…the photo must be a fake, right? Ask McCain what he told the VC when he was in the Hanio Hilton, also ask him why after he was captured they changed the Military Code of Justice so POWs that committed treason wouldn’t be prosecuted. Is everyone afraid to ask? Well there are a lot of dead servicemen with their names on the NAM memorial wall that wouldn’t be afraid if they were still here to ask.

Posted by: John | February 26, 2008, 6:39 pm 6:39 pm

Hey Bill B-
Obama won’t need that old house soon–He’ll be living in a new one–The new address? 1600 Pennsylvania Ave.
Obama 08!!

Posted by: DQuinn | February 29, 2008, 8:24 pm 8:24 pm

Lets face it people, the Big crooks arent in the prisons, they are either in public office or running for it. God Bless America we need it

Posted by: sheri | March 9, 2008, 10:47 am 10:47 am

speaking of Misconduct, Liberman and McCain are quite suspicious, I am not sure those two aren’t in LOVE!

Posted by: EYESURGERY | October 17, 2008, 8:55 pm 8:55 pm

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2nd McCain Official to Face Federal Charges

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