Arizona leader quietly leaves Congress
Arizona Congressman Rick Renzi will not be among the 435 House members sworn in Tuesday as the 111th Congress convenes.
The three-term Republican leaves office under indictment and preparing for a criminal trial in March.
Renzi is accused in a 44-count criminal indictment in connection with a shady land deal and misappropriating insurance premiums from his clients to finance his first campaign.
Renzi did not seek a fourth term, but he also refused to resign.
In November, voters in Arizona's District 1 chose Democrat Ann Kirkpatrick to fill the vacant seat.
Kirkpatrick's staff is already in Washington. The 50 year-old first won the seat in 2002.
At the time, it was a newly created district covering a large portion of rural Arizona. District 1 covers 8 of Arizona's 15 counties.
Renzi's early terms were noted by his ability to effectively lobby on behalf of his constituents.
"Really it was bringing home the federal dollars that was a huge legacy of Rick Renzi," said Fred Solop, a Northern Arizona University political scientist, in an interview with the Associated Press.
But the investigation of Renzi and subsequent indictment made Renzi a lame duck.
In fact, Congress.org, a public service website ranked Renzi 85th most powerful in the House in 2005.
This year, Renzi's was ranked 435th - last among lawmakers.
Renzi lost his congressional committee assignments following his indictment.
Renzi and his three co-defendants have pleaded not guilty.
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