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Trump pardons former Rep. Rick Renzi for fraud, extortion convictions
Thursday, January 21, 2021
Cronkite News
WASHINGTON – In one of his last acts as president, Donald Trump on Wednesday pardoned two Arizonans, including former Rep. Rick Renzi who was convicted of extortion, racketeering and other charges while representing the 1st District in Congress.
The pardons – including one for Scott Connor Crosby, a one-time bank robber who supporters say has turned his life around – were among 73 pardons and 70 sentence commutations Trump issued Wednesday morning.
Renzi’s pardon was called for by Rep. Paul Gosar, R-Prescott, and a slew of former House members who cited Renzi’s family and his service to constituents while in office in urging clemency.
Gosar did not respond to a request for comment on Renzi’s pardon Wednesday. But others criticized the flurry of pardons, which included former Trump associates, as “offensive, but not surprising.”
Less controversial was the pardon for Crosby, which was called for by his church leader, the mayor and vice mayor of Mesa and former Sen. Martha McSally, R-Ariz. Vice Mayor Mark Freeman said in an emailed statement that he was “absolutely thrilled at the news that Mr. Crosby received a full pardon this morning.” “I have known Mr. Crosby for many years and I have witnessed what a positive role model he is for Mesa and how he does not let a mistake he made more than 25 years ago define him,” Freeman said. “He took responsibility for his actions, paid his debt to society and has come out the other side a better person for it.” The White House release announcing the pardon said Crosby made “spur-of-the-moment poor” decision to join coworker’s plan for a bank robbery in 1992. He was arrested the same day, cooperated with authorities and has spent “significant time” since his release working with youths and volunteering at his church, the White House said. “Since his release, he has been an asset to our community. He is a successful general contractor, church youth group leader and certified search and rescue scuba diver,” Mesa Mayor John Giles wrote in a letter requesting Crosby’s pardon. “I admire his drive to not let a mistake he made more than 25 years ago, change the course of his life.”Among raft of pardons Trump issued in his final hours was one to former GOP Rep. Rick Renzi, who was convicted for extortion, bribery, insurance fraud, money laundering and racketeering. Rep. Paul Gosar, one of the Rs who tried to overturn election results, lobbied for the pardon
— Manu Raju (@mkraju) January 20, 2021
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Statement from the White House Press Secretary Regarding Executive Grants of Clemency
The following was released by the White House in connection with a pardon granted to Rick Renzi by former president Donald Trump on January 20, 2021.Representative Rick Renzi
President Trump granted a full pardon to Representative Rick Renzi of Arizona. Mr. Renzi’s pardon is supported by Representative Paul Gosar, Representative Tom Cole, former Representative Tom DeLay, former Representative Jack Kingston, former Representative Todd Tiahrt, former Representative John Doolittle, former Representative Duncan Hunter Sr., former Representative Richard Pombo, former Representative Charles Taylor, former Representative Dan Burton, Larry Weitzner, National Institute of Family and Life Advocates, and numerous other members of his community. In 2013, Mr. Renzi was convicted of extortion, bribery, insurance fraud, money laundering, and racketeering. He was sentenced to 2 years in Federal prison, 2 years of supervised release, and paid a $25,000 fine. Before his conviction, Mr. Renzi served three terms in the House of Representatives. His constituents considered him a strong advocate for better housing, quality education, and improved healthcare—especially for the underprivileged and Native Americans. He is the father of 12 children and a loving and devoted husband.
Note: This story originally appeared on Cronkite News. It is published via a Creative Commons license. Cronkite News is produced by the Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication at Arizona State University.
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