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PHOENIX -- Gov. Janet Napolitano believes Congressman Rick Renzi should resign — and sooner rather than later. The governor said Wednesday the 35-count indictment against Renzi probably makes it impossible for him to do the job he was sent to Washington to do.

She pointed out that Renzi removed himself from all U.S. House committees last year when allegations of improprieties were first raised. That includes one of the issues which resulted in charges that he misused his position as a member of the House Natural Resources Committee to pressure one company and a group of investors to buy a piece of property from a former business partner.

"That's where the work of the House is done,'' the governor said.

"And he's been drawing full salary during that whole time,'' Napolitano continued. "But at a certain point the people who live in his district are entitled to have a full-time working congressman.''

The governor acknowledged Renzi's statement earlier this week that resigning would result in his assuming a "cloak of guilt.'' But she said that ignores the reality of his legal situation.

"If we wants to remove the cloak of guilt, I think it's going to take his full-time effort,'' she said. "And if it's going to take his full-time effort, then he needs to resign.''

Renzi has said the charges won't interfere with his work, saying that's why he has lawyers to battle the charges.