What's the name of that guy....four-letter first name....five-letter, somewhat ethnic sounding last name starting with R, ending in a vowel ....a low character, yet the major presidential candidate hung with him a bit too much, causing critics to question his judgment? It'll come to me....

Yeah,  Rick Renzi,  that's it.

You probably haven't heard the name because you've been so obsessed with Barack Obama's association with Tony Rezko, but here's the story:

McCain named U.S. Rep. Renzi (R-Ariz.), a co-chair of his campaign in Arizona on Jan. 26, even though  rumors were swirling that he was corrupt  and it was  widely reported as early as April, 2007,  that  the FBI was investigating him (also see  "Land-swap plan causes trouble for Congressman-- Mr. Renzi offers field to mining companies, grand jury is active," from the Wall Street Journal, April 21, 2007).

Then, well, let's go to the Swamp on Feb. 22 of this year: 

A  26-page federal indictment  unsealed in Arizona this morning accuses Renzi and two former business partners of conspiring to promote the sale of land that buyers could swap for property owned by the federal government....

Talking Points Memo  summarized  the indictment crisply:

Renzi is charged with doing everything he can as a congressman to strong-arm others into buying land from his buddy James Sandlin -- Sandlin then allegedly kicked back sizable chunks of cash back to Renzi in a series of complicated financial transactions (thus the money laundering charge). ...The indictment charges (also) Renzi with a conspiracy to "embezzle and misappropriate client premiums [from his insurance company] to fund his congressional campaign."

Renzi, who is awaiting trial, was quickly removed from a position of leadership in the McCain campaign, and yet how much howling have you heard about McCain palling around with allegedly corrupt pols? 

April 8 Huff Po Irony alert:  McCain Once Physically Attacked Fellow Congressman (Renzi)

March 8 "Carpetbagger Report" entry by Steve Benen:   The story gets worse for McCain’s buddy Rick Renzi

Beyond Delay:   THE FULL REPORT ON REP. RICK RENZI (R-AZ) (.pdf) 

Feb 26, Think Progress:  McCain: ‘It Doesn’t Matter’ If Indicted Congressman Renzi Is Still Part Of My Campaign

Washington Post, Oct. 17: Renzi Claims Agents Tapped GOP Calls