AP quoted McCain's answer to Renzi resignation question, but didn't note Renzi is former McCain campaign co-chairman

Summary: An Associated Press article reported that Sen. John McCain was asked "whether Republican Rep. Rick Renzi should resign from office," but the article did not note that McCain named Renzi a co-chairman of his presidential campaign in Arizona months after it was reported that Renzi was under federal investigation.

In a March 3 article, Associated Press writer Amanda Lee Myers reported that Sen. John McCain was asked "whether Republican Rep. Rick Renzi should resign from office," but Myers did not note that McCain named Renzi a co-chairman of his presidential campaign in Arizona on March 21, 2007, months after it was reported that Renzi was under federal investigation. McCain's campaign website no longer lists Renzi as a campaign co-chairman.

Myers reported, "Asked whether Republican Rep. Rick Renzi should resign from office, McCain said he can't make that decision for him. 'But I do believe Congressman Renzi should have the same benefit as every citizen of America, and that is the right of innocence until proven guilty.' "

McCain donated $5,000 to Renzi's campaign from his leadership political action committee, Straight Talk America, in April 2006, sent a fundraising email on Renzi's behalf in June 2006. In April 2007, the FBI raided Renzi's family business in connection with the federal investigation, and in August 2007, Renzi announced he would not seek re-election. On February 22, Renzi was indicted on 35 counts by a federal grand jury.

From the March 3 Associated Press article:

During a news conference at Sky Harbor, McCain also addressed other issues.

Asked whether Republican Rep. Rick Renzi should resign from office, McCain said he can't make that decision for him. "But I do believe Congressman Renzi should have the same benefit as every citizen of America, and that is the right of innocence until proven guilty."

Renzi, a three-term lawmaker whose district covers much of rural Arizona, was indicted last month on 35 counts including charges of conspiracy, wire fraud, money laundering and extortion. The Justice Department accuses him of engineering a swap of federally owned mining land to benefit himself and a former business partner and stealing from his insurance company's clients.

Renzi has denied wrongdoing.

—E.H.H.