NRCC Chief: Leave Renzi Alone!National Republican Congressional Committee (NRCC) Chairman Tom Cole declined to call publicly for Rep. Rick Renzi’s (R-Ariz.) resignation on Monday, saying his friend is innocent until proven guilty….“I think he’s got every right to do what he thinks,” Cole said. “I guess I believe in the American legal system. You’re allowed to go argue your case. I don’t tell people that they ought to resign, and I wouldn’t share that kind of discussion, honestly, in a public venue anyway.
“At the end of the day, Rick says he’s innocent. Rick’s going to argue that case. He has the right to do that,” Cole said.
If Renzi were to bow out before May 4th, it would force a special election, but if he sticks it out past then and then resigns, the seat would remain vacant until November. In any case, Renzi himself is in no hurry to leave, and his case is unlikely to go to trial for many, many months.