Federal Magistrate to Hear Renzi Pretrial Motions

4 Dec 2008 // TUCSON, Ariz. (AP) - Defense lawyers and prosecutors battle in federal court Thursday in Tucson over pretrial motions seeking to dismiss charges against a retiring congressman.

Lawyers for Rep. Rick Renzi plan to ask U.S. Magistrate Bernardo Velasco to dismiss a 44-count indictment against the three-term Republican congressman from Arizona's 1st District, who did not seek re-election last month.

Defense lawyers contend that the Justice Department violated the speech or debate clause of the U.S. Constitution, which grants members of Congress protections for their legislative acts.

Renzi is accused of engineering a swap of federally owned mining land to benefit himself and a former business partner. Among other charges, he's also accused of with misappropriating premiums from clients of his insurance company.