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Rep. Renzi pleads not guilty to fraud

The Arizona congressman also disputes extortion and money laundering charges in a 35-count indictment.
Image: Rep. Rick Renzi in 2006.
Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz., is free on bond after pleading innocent to charges in a 35-count indictment.Pablo Martinez Monsivais / AP file
/ Source: The Associated Press

Arizona Congressman Rick Renzi has pleaded not guilty to federal charges including insurance fraud, extortion and money laundering.

The three-term Republican appeared in U.S. District Court in Tucson on Tuesday. He was named Feb. 21 with two other defendants in a 35-count indictment.

Renzi is accused of helping with a swap of federally owned mining land that benefited him and a business partner. He's also accused of embezzling more than $400,000 from clients of his family insurance business.

Renzi has been released without bond.