Lawmaker indicted on racketeering charges

TUCSON, Nov. 14 (UPI) -- Retiring U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi, R-Ariz., faces federal racketeering charges in a new indictment handed down in Tucson, officials say.

The new indictment, unsealed Thursday in federal court, is related to previous charges that Renzi funded his campaign with money he embezzled and used his position in Congress to commit extortion, The Washington Times said.

The Arizona lawmaker, a three-term congressman who did not seek re-election this year, originally was charged with corruption in a 35-count indictment in February.

Renzi is accused of embezzling hundreds of thousands of dollars from insurance premiums paid to his company to fund campaign and other personal expenses.