By Joanna Allhands | The Arizona Republic
(Editor’s note: Posting opinion pieces does not necessarily reflect the opinions of Rose Law Group.)
It’s fitting, I suppose, that the long and sordid deal that has been former U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi’s corruption trial ended with more questions than answers.
This case has spanned five years and taken as many twists and turns as the Jodi Arias trial. The case has cost millions of dollars to prosecute. Hundreds of people lost their jobs and priceless artifacts were left unprotected as a result of the copper-mine and national park deals that were delayed for years once Renzi was arrested.
Not to mention that three dozen attorneys filed more than 1,145 motions, briefs and appeals raising all sorts of tough questions about how we define public corruption and handle claims of overzealous federal prosecution.
Yet, the verdict was read quietly without the media in the room. So quietly, in fact, that we initially only knew Renzi was convicted on some charges and acquitted on others.
