( CNN ) -- The federal prosecution of former U.S. Rep. Rick Renzi of Arizona will continue , a federal appeals court in San Francisco ruled Thursday . The three-judge panel said the lawmaker 's actions were not protected by the Constitution 's `` speech and debate '' clause . `` Despite Renzi 's best efforts to convince us otherwise , we agree with the district court that the alleged choices and actions for which he is being prosecuted lie beyond those limits '' of protected activity , the court said in a unanimous 45-page ruling . The privilege protects lawmakers and staffers from legal action over `` legislative '' acts . The pending trial had been on hold while the constitutional issues were being appealed . Republican Renzi , 53 , faces federal corruption charges related to an alleged illegal land-swap deal , allegedly designed to help a business associate pay back $ 700,000 owed the lawmaker . He is also accused of misappropriating money from his family insurance business to fund his campaigns and for personal benefit . The charges include conspiracy , wire fraud , money laundering , extortion and insurance fraud . FBI agents raided his family business in 2007 , and he was indicted a year later . He decided not to seek re-election in 2008 . He has pleaded not guilty . `` The Supreme Court has made equally clear that the Speech or Debate Clause does not make members of Congress supercitizens immune from criminal responsibility , '' said the appeals court . Renzi could now appeal his case to the Supreme Court . Previous lawmakers have sought to shield themselves from prosecution using the `` speech and debate '' protection , including former Rep. William Jefferson , D-Louisiana . He was convicted and sentenced to 13 years in prison in 2009 for bribery and public corruption while in office . Renzi represented the large 1st District in his state , centered in Flagstaff . The case is U.S. v. Renzi ( 10-10088 ) .
Renzi faces corruption charges related to an alleged illegal land-swap deal . He says clause in Constitution protects him from legal action . Federal appeals court says `` speech and debate '' clause does not apply .