The Idaho Supreme Court has ruled that former U.S. Rep. George Hansen owes more than $700,000 for defrauding an Idaho couple in an investment scheme Hansen called the "Congressional Accountability Project."

The court ruled unanimously against Hansen, 79, a Republican who represented Idaho's 2nd Congressional District for 14 years between 1965 and 1985. The opinion was issued Friday.

Hansen spent 40 months in federal prison for his 1993 conviction on 45 counts for defrauding two Idaho banks of $2.1 million in a check-kiting scheme.

A legendary campaigner, Hansen was the only member of Congress to visit the hostages at the American embassy in Iran in 1979. He was beloved by Idaho conservatives for his flamboyant criticism of the IRS. When he was sentenced for the 1993 conviction, almost 100 of his alleged victims told the judge he remained their political champion and they did not want him imprisoned.

Read the complete story at idahostatesman.com