Renzi: Gov’t Listened to GOP Leadership Meetings Through WiretapLawyers for Rep. Rick Renzi (R-AZ) have alleged in new court filings that the FBI “recorded dozens of sensitive conversations concerning House leadership races” after the 2006 elections, reports The Hill.
Days after the Democrats won control of Congress, say Renzi’s lawyers, the bureau recorded part of a conference call involving the entire House Republican Conference.
“Through the discovery process, Renzi’s lawyers have been informed that, a couple weeks before the 2006 election, a 30-day wiretap order was granted on the cell phone used by Renzi,” The Hill reports.
According to court documents filed by Renzi’s lawyers, the governement also recorded more than than 50 privileged phone calls between Renzi and his attorneys and many conversations between Renzi and his wife, violating attorney-client and spousal privilege.
In light of these violations, Renzi’s attorneys called today for a U.S. District Court Judge in Arizona to dismiss the charges against the Congressman.
Renzi has been charged with conspiracy and other criminal counts in connection with his support for support for legislation concerning a land deal that allegedly netted him more than $700,000.