FBI Raids Business of Rep. Rick Renzi – Linked to Dismissal of Arizona U.S. Attorney Charlton

By Scott Horton

Roll Call reports this evening that FBI agents raided the business of Rep. Rick Renzi, an Arizona Republican. Those who listened to Alberto Gonzales testify today will recall that he was drilled repeatedly about his dismissal of Paul Charlton as U.S. Attorney in Arizona. He sputtered out a series of incoherent answers. Anyone who's looked over the totality of the story (like the reporters at the Arizona Republic) knows that there is only one plausible answer: Charlton had been pursuing a criminal investigation of Renzi, and Karl Rove, fearing the loss of yet another Republican House seat was desperate to put the brake to it.