Title: This Is Terrible
ErinB - May 26, 2005 06:31 PM (GMT)
It looks like Harold Ford's Senate bid is in big trouble. They have arrested his brother in Memphis.
I could only find this Kos diary but will keep looking.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/5/26/122220/543
I could only find this Kos diary but will keep looking.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/5/26/122220/543
GSC Admin - May 26, 2005 07:25 PM (GMT)
Erin, it isn't his brother, but his dumb uncle again. Yes, the same one who was caught having two households with two families. Yes, the same one who is under investigation for defrauding TennCare.
I do believe the whole Ford family is crazy with the exception of the younger Harold.
It is huge news here in Tennessee. Just a few hours ago Governor Bredesen held a press conference on the issue.
http://www.wsmv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3395855&nav=1TcRaKWx
Four lawmakers, three others charged amid extortion investigation
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Four Tennessee lawmakers, a former lawmaker and two others were indicted Thursday amid a federal bribery investigation into the business dealings of a state senator from Memphis from a powerful political family, officials said.
That senator, John Ford, also is charged with witness intimidation, which included telling an undercover agent that "if he caught someone trying to set him up he would shoot that person, kill them, so there would be no witnesses," the indictment says.
The others charged are Sens. Kathryn Bowers and Ward Crutchfield; state Rep. Chris Newton; and former state Sen. Roscoe Dixon, who is now a top aide to the Shelby County mayor. Newton is a Republican and the others are Democrats.
They are all charged with taking bribes from undercover federal investigators to influence legislation concerning a bogus company set up by the FBI called E-Cycle Management Inc. The company purported to be a recycler of outdated electronic equipment.
U.S. Attorney Terrell Harris said the investigation has been under way for two years after authorities got an anonymous complaint alleging improper conduct by lawmakers. The undercover operation was dubbed "Tennessee Waltz."
"Public corruption is a high priority," Harris said. "Our citizens have a right to know government is not for sale."
Also charged were Barry Myers and Charles Love. Myers couldn't immediately be identified. Love is a registered lobbyist and a member of the Hamilton County School Board in Chattanooga.
The indictment lists a series of payments to Ford totaling $55,000. It says the payoffs began last year and continued this year even as the General Assembly debated and passed stiff new ethics legislation.
The indictment says Dixon and Myers received $9,500, Bowers and Myers received $11,500, Crutchfied and Love received $12,000, and Newton and Love received $4,500.
"We hope it will bring back some of the trust back to state government," Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director Mark Gwyn said.
The indictment quotes statements it says Ford made while dealing with a representative of E-Cycle. When told on July 17 that making changes to some of his legislation would help the company, the senator replied, "You are talking to the guy that makes the deals."
When asked on Nov. 11 if he needed anything, Ford said, "Yeah, send me a little money."
The arrests happened as the Tennessee General Assembly was trying to wrap up debate on the state budget and adjourn the session by Friday.
Gov. Phil Bredesen met with Senate leaders after they got news of the arrests, several of which happened early Thursday in Nashville.
Sen. Joe Haynes said Bredesen told the leaders that no more lawmakers were to be charged in the case. The governor told the lawmakers that he had been briefed on the investigation early in the day by FBI and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents.
"It's a sad day for the state of Tennessee. It's a sad day for the Legislature," said Senate Speaker Pro Tem Micheal Williams, R-Maynardville.
The arrests Thursday marked the biggest corruption indictments in Tennessee since the Rocky Top investigation of 1990. In that probe, federal and state investigation found bingo operators who used state charters of legitimate Tennessee charities to run gambling operations. It led to several indictments and suicides by two public officials, including the secretary of state at the time, Gentry Crowell.
Newton and Bowers previously said they were interviewed earlier this month by FBI agents about Ford.
Newton said he was asked about Ford's dealings with TennCare contractors, including a contract worth $429,000 with Doral Dental, and about legislation he had sponsored or co-sponsored with Ford, including one bill that would allow companies to buy and sell used electronic equipment from the state.
During the close of the session on Wednesday, Newton asked to withdraw that bill, HB0037, from the House.
The bill would have required state government to route surplus computer and electronic equipment to local schools districts. It also required that any equipment the schools didn't need be disposed of by a qualified electronic recycling company.
Love, a registered lobbyist and principal in Charles Love and Associates in Chattanooga, said last week that he lobbied legislators on behalf of E-Cycle Management.
Sponsors of the legislation were Ford, Bowers, Newton, Crutchfield and six other lawmakers -- Rep. Ulysses Jones, D-Memphis; Rep. Charles M. Sargent, R-Franklin; Rep. Larry Miller, D-Memphis; Rep. Paul Stanley, R-Germantown; Rep. Joe Armstrong, D-Knoxville; and Sen. Jeff Miller, R-Cleveland.
Armstrong said he never voted on the bill or had it come through his committees.
"I knew the guy (Love) who was pushing the bill. He told me that he had involvement with the company. He was going around getting signatures on the bill. I didn't know what the company was because it never did come out in the bill," he said. "The bill just said they take surplus equipment, clean it up and sell it, rather the state taking it and putting it in a warehouse and disposing it. They looked at it as hazardous waste, you can't just throw it in a landfill."
I do believe the whole Ford family is crazy with the exception of the younger Harold.
It is huge news here in Tennessee. Just a few hours ago Governor Bredesen held a press conference on the issue.
http://www.wsmv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3395855&nav=1TcRaKWx
Four lawmakers, three others charged amid extortion investigation
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Four Tennessee lawmakers, a former lawmaker and two others were indicted Thursday amid a federal bribery investigation into the business dealings of a state senator from Memphis from a powerful political family, officials said.
That senator, John Ford, also is charged with witness intimidation, which included telling an undercover agent that "if he caught someone trying to set him up he would shoot that person, kill them, so there would be no witnesses," the indictment says.
The others charged are Sens. Kathryn Bowers and Ward Crutchfield; state Rep. Chris Newton; and former state Sen. Roscoe Dixon, who is now a top aide to the Shelby County mayor. Newton is a Republican and the others are Democrats.
They are all charged with taking bribes from undercover federal investigators to influence legislation concerning a bogus company set up by the FBI called E-Cycle Management Inc. The company purported to be a recycler of outdated electronic equipment.
U.S. Attorney Terrell Harris said the investigation has been under way for two years after authorities got an anonymous complaint alleging improper conduct by lawmakers. The undercover operation was dubbed "Tennessee Waltz."
"Public corruption is a high priority," Harris said. "Our citizens have a right to know government is not for sale."
Also charged were Barry Myers and Charles Love. Myers couldn't immediately be identified. Love is a registered lobbyist and a member of the Hamilton County School Board in Chattanooga.
The indictment lists a series of payments to Ford totaling $55,000. It says the payoffs began last year and continued this year even as the General Assembly debated and passed stiff new ethics legislation.
The indictment says Dixon and Myers received $9,500, Bowers and Myers received $11,500, Crutchfied and Love received $12,000, and Newton and Love received $4,500.
"We hope it will bring back some of the trust back to state government," Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director Mark Gwyn said.
The indictment quotes statements it says Ford made while dealing with a representative of E-Cycle. When told on July 17 that making changes to some of his legislation would help the company, the senator replied, "You are talking to the guy that makes the deals."
When asked on Nov. 11 if he needed anything, Ford said, "Yeah, send me a little money."
The arrests happened as the Tennessee General Assembly was trying to wrap up debate on the state budget and adjourn the session by Friday.
Gov. Phil Bredesen met with Senate leaders after they got news of the arrests, several of which happened early Thursday in Nashville.
Sen. Joe Haynes said Bredesen told the leaders that no more lawmakers were to be charged in the case. The governor told the lawmakers that he had been briefed on the investigation early in the day by FBI and Tennessee Bureau of Investigation agents.
"It's a sad day for the state of Tennessee. It's a sad day for the Legislature," said Senate Speaker Pro Tem Micheal Williams, R-Maynardville.
The arrests Thursday marked the biggest corruption indictments in Tennessee since the Rocky Top investigation of 1990. In that probe, federal and state investigation found bingo operators who used state charters of legitimate Tennessee charities to run gambling operations. It led to several indictments and suicides by two public officials, including the secretary of state at the time, Gentry Crowell.
Newton and Bowers previously said they were interviewed earlier this month by FBI agents about Ford.
Newton said he was asked about Ford's dealings with TennCare contractors, including a contract worth $429,000 with Doral Dental, and about legislation he had sponsored or co-sponsored with Ford, including one bill that would allow companies to buy and sell used electronic equipment from the state.
During the close of the session on Wednesday, Newton asked to withdraw that bill, HB0037, from the House.
The bill would have required state government to route surplus computer and electronic equipment to local schools districts. It also required that any equipment the schools didn't need be disposed of by a qualified electronic recycling company.
Love, a registered lobbyist and principal in Charles Love and Associates in Chattanooga, said last week that he lobbied legislators on behalf of E-Cycle Management.
Sponsors of the legislation were Ford, Bowers, Newton, Crutchfield and six other lawmakers -- Rep. Ulysses Jones, D-Memphis; Rep. Charles M. Sargent, R-Franklin; Rep. Larry Miller, D-Memphis; Rep. Paul Stanley, R-Germantown; Rep. Joe Armstrong, D-Knoxville; and Sen. Jeff Miller, R-Cleveland.
Armstrong said he never voted on the bill or had it come through his committees.
"I knew the guy (Love) who was pushing the bill. He told me that he had involvement with the company. He was going around getting signatures on the bill. I didn't know what the company was because it never did come out in the bill," he said. "The bill just said they take surplus equipment, clean it up and sell it, rather the state taking it and putting it in a warehouse and disposing it. They looked at it as hazardous waste, you can't just throw it in a landfill."
ErinB - May 26, 2005 07:44 PM (GMT)
Thanks, I meant to say uncle...here is another article.
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar...NEWS02/50526002
Three busted in bribery sting face judge
Sen. Crutchfield says he is not guilty, Sen. Bowers says she is doing as well as can be expected
The Tennessean
At least one of the four sitting legislators arrested on bribery charges today plans to head back to work at the Senate, his attorney says.
“I’m not guilty of anything,” said Sen. Ward Crutchfield, D-Chattanooga, after hearing the charges against him before a U.S. magistrate. “I’ll make a statement at the appropriate time.”
Crutchfield is accused of taking $12,000 in bribes.
His attorney, Bill Farmer, said Crutchfield plans to return to work today as the Legislative session winds down. Legislative leaders said that indicted lawmakers can keep doing their jobs, although they forfeit committee chairmanships or other leadership positions.
“I guess I’m feeling as well as can be expected,” said another of the indicted legislators, Sen. Kathryn Bowers, D-Memphis, after facing the judge. She declined further comment. She is accused of taking $11,500 in bribes.
In all, four state lawmakers and one former state senator took tens of thousands of dollars in bribes from undercover federal agents in a two-year sting called “Operation Tennessee Waltz,” federal agents said.
The feds set up an undercover business seeking state contracts to recycle computers, and paid bribes to get a bill passed to facilitate it, authorities said.
In addition to Crutchfield and Bowers, the lawmakers arrested today are Sen. John Ford, D-Memphis and Rep. Chris Newton, R-Cleveland. The former lawmaker is Sen. Roscoe Dixon, a Memphis Democrat who stepped down in January.
Ford is accused of taking $55,000. The others are accused of taking lesser amounts.
“Government is not for sale,” said U.S. Attorney Terrell Harris.
The busts were the dramatic culmination of a legislative session dominated by discussion of ethics.
Crutchfield, Bowers and Newton appeared before U.S. Magistrate Joe Brown in Nashville to hear the charges against them, at 12:15 p.m. today. The hearing took a half hour. They were released without bail.
Ford was arrested in Nashville but was to face a judge in Memphis, which Brown said was unusual.
Gov. Phil Bredesen held a news conference with Legislative leaders, emphasizing that people are innocent until proven guilty. But, he said, “Even the fact of these indictments and arrests are a challenge and a sadness to us all, and cannot help but shake the confidence of the people of Tennessee.”
Arrested with the five lawmakers were two other men, Barry Myers, an associate of Dixon, and Charles Love, a Hamilton County school board member and lobbyist, who are charged with aiding and abetting the illegal activities of the legislators.
An eighth person was also being sought by federal agents yesterday, and that person’s identity would not be revealed until an arrest, federal agents said at a news conference this morning.
FBI agents had interviewed Newton and Bowers earlier this month about a bill sponsored by all four lawmakers, among others, Newton said Monday.
The bill would have allowed electronic recycling companies to contract with the state to dispose of surplus state computer equipment not claimed by school districts. Newton said it was pushed by Love and E-Cycle Management Inc., which he believed was an Atlanta-area company.
E-Cycle was actually a sham company set up by FBI agents, federal authorities said this morning. It was set up in response to allegations of corruption by elected officials. They would not elaborate further on what led them to set up E-Cycle.
Newton said in his earlier interview that the bill in question, Senate Bill 94/House Bill 37, was clean and had answered several questions raised earlier by the state comptroller’s office. But Newton said he forced the bill to stall in a committee, after Ford became embroiled in several ethics controversies over his dealings with state contractors.
“I don’t want to be in the middle of something that even has an appearance of impropriety,” Newton said.
Newton said he had not had any conversations with Ford about the bill, which he planned to withdraw Wednesday because Love had not registered with the state as a lobbyist.
Newton said FBI agents also had interviewed Sen. Jeff Miller, R-Cleveland; Rep. Ulysses Jones, D-Memphis, and Rep. Larry Miller, D-Memphis, all of whom co-sponsored the bill.
The legislative session has been dominated by ethics discussions sparked by Ford’s business dealings, including his consulting contracts with companies linked to TennCare. Ford sits on three legislative committees that oversee TennCare.
Meanwhile, legislative leaders said they plan to continue working on a state budget and resolving TennCare funding issues despite the arrests.
“We’re trying to do the people’s business,” House Minority Leader Tre’ Hargett said. “That’s where the focus is right now.”
Rep. Charles Sargent, R-Franklin, who was a co-sponsor of the computer recycling bill, said he has not been contacted by federal agents.
Sen. Douglas Henry, D-Nashville, said when asked whether the arrests indicate the need for stronger ethics laws for legislators, “If you pass you ethics bills in a hurry, you’re reacting to headlines.”
Even though two members of his Senate Finance Committee were arrested this morning, Henry still plans to continue discussing and voting on the state’s appropriations bill for the coming fiscal year. “I’m sorry it happened.”
Sen. Mike Williams, R-Maynardville, who is Senate speaker pro tem, said, “It’s a sad day for the legislature and the families. I ask for the prayers of the citizens of the state. It’s a tough time. Our priorities are the state budget and moving forward on TennCare.”
He, too, was asked about the need for stronger ethics laws on Capitol Hill. “We should not have a knee-jerk reaction,” he said.
Charges against the lawmakers
• Conspiracy
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/ts_s...itle=18&sec=371
• Conspiracy to extort/attempted extortion under color of official right/violation of the federal Hobbs Act: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/eousa/foia_readi...e9/crm02403.htm
• Accepting bribes by an agent of the state of Tennessee
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/ts_s...itle=18&sec=666
Sen. John Ford was also charged with three counts of attempting to threaten and intimidate potential witnesses:
• http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/ts_s...tle=18&sec=1512
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/ar...NEWS02/50526002
Three busted in bribery sting face judge
Sen. Crutchfield says he is not guilty, Sen. Bowers says she is doing as well as can be expected
The Tennessean
At least one of the four sitting legislators arrested on bribery charges today plans to head back to work at the Senate, his attorney says.
“I’m not guilty of anything,” said Sen. Ward Crutchfield, D-Chattanooga, after hearing the charges against him before a U.S. magistrate. “I’ll make a statement at the appropriate time.”
Crutchfield is accused of taking $12,000 in bribes.
His attorney, Bill Farmer, said Crutchfield plans to return to work today as the Legislative session winds down. Legislative leaders said that indicted lawmakers can keep doing their jobs, although they forfeit committee chairmanships or other leadership positions.
“I guess I’m feeling as well as can be expected,” said another of the indicted legislators, Sen. Kathryn Bowers, D-Memphis, after facing the judge. She declined further comment. She is accused of taking $11,500 in bribes.
In all, four state lawmakers and one former state senator took tens of thousands of dollars in bribes from undercover federal agents in a two-year sting called “Operation Tennessee Waltz,” federal agents said.
The feds set up an undercover business seeking state contracts to recycle computers, and paid bribes to get a bill passed to facilitate it, authorities said.
In addition to Crutchfield and Bowers, the lawmakers arrested today are Sen. John Ford, D-Memphis and Rep. Chris Newton, R-Cleveland. The former lawmaker is Sen. Roscoe Dixon, a Memphis Democrat who stepped down in January.
Ford is accused of taking $55,000. The others are accused of taking lesser amounts.
“Government is not for sale,” said U.S. Attorney Terrell Harris.
The busts were the dramatic culmination of a legislative session dominated by discussion of ethics.
Crutchfield, Bowers and Newton appeared before U.S. Magistrate Joe Brown in Nashville to hear the charges against them, at 12:15 p.m. today. The hearing took a half hour. They were released without bail.
Ford was arrested in Nashville but was to face a judge in Memphis, which Brown said was unusual.
Gov. Phil Bredesen held a news conference with Legislative leaders, emphasizing that people are innocent until proven guilty. But, he said, “Even the fact of these indictments and arrests are a challenge and a sadness to us all, and cannot help but shake the confidence of the people of Tennessee.”
Arrested with the five lawmakers were two other men, Barry Myers, an associate of Dixon, and Charles Love, a Hamilton County school board member and lobbyist, who are charged with aiding and abetting the illegal activities of the legislators.
An eighth person was also being sought by federal agents yesterday, and that person’s identity would not be revealed until an arrest, federal agents said at a news conference this morning.
FBI agents had interviewed Newton and Bowers earlier this month about a bill sponsored by all four lawmakers, among others, Newton said Monday.
The bill would have allowed electronic recycling companies to contract with the state to dispose of surplus state computer equipment not claimed by school districts. Newton said it was pushed by Love and E-Cycle Management Inc., which he believed was an Atlanta-area company.
E-Cycle was actually a sham company set up by FBI agents, federal authorities said this morning. It was set up in response to allegations of corruption by elected officials. They would not elaborate further on what led them to set up E-Cycle.
Newton said in his earlier interview that the bill in question, Senate Bill 94/House Bill 37, was clean and had answered several questions raised earlier by the state comptroller’s office. But Newton said he forced the bill to stall in a committee, after Ford became embroiled in several ethics controversies over his dealings with state contractors.
“I don’t want to be in the middle of something that even has an appearance of impropriety,” Newton said.
Newton said he had not had any conversations with Ford about the bill, which he planned to withdraw Wednesday because Love had not registered with the state as a lobbyist.
Newton said FBI agents also had interviewed Sen. Jeff Miller, R-Cleveland; Rep. Ulysses Jones, D-Memphis, and Rep. Larry Miller, D-Memphis, all of whom co-sponsored the bill.
The legislative session has been dominated by ethics discussions sparked by Ford’s business dealings, including his consulting contracts with companies linked to TennCare. Ford sits on three legislative committees that oversee TennCare.
Meanwhile, legislative leaders said they plan to continue working on a state budget and resolving TennCare funding issues despite the arrests.
“We’re trying to do the people’s business,” House Minority Leader Tre’ Hargett said. “That’s where the focus is right now.”
Rep. Charles Sargent, R-Franklin, who was a co-sponsor of the computer recycling bill, said he has not been contacted by federal agents.
Sen. Douglas Henry, D-Nashville, said when asked whether the arrests indicate the need for stronger ethics laws for legislators, “If you pass you ethics bills in a hurry, you’re reacting to headlines.”
Even though two members of his Senate Finance Committee were arrested this morning, Henry still plans to continue discussing and voting on the state’s appropriations bill for the coming fiscal year. “I’m sorry it happened.”
Sen. Mike Williams, R-Maynardville, who is Senate speaker pro tem, said, “It’s a sad day for the legislature and the families. I ask for the prayers of the citizens of the state. It’s a tough time. Our priorities are the state budget and moving forward on TennCare.”
He, too, was asked about the need for stronger ethics laws on Capitol Hill. “We should not have a knee-jerk reaction,” he said.
Charges against the lawmakers
• Conspiracy
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/ts_s...itle=18&sec=371
• Conspiracy to extort/attempted extortion under color of official right/violation of the federal Hobbs Act: http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/eousa/foia_readi...e9/crm02403.htm
• Accepting bribes by an agent of the state of Tennessee
http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/ts_s...itle=18&sec=666
Sen. John Ford was also charged with three counts of attempting to threaten and intimidate potential witnesses:
• http://caselaw.lp.findlaw.com/scripts/ts_s...tle=18&sec=1512
ap215 - May 26, 2005 09:24 PM (GMT)
And speaking of ford he's in the race but doesn't mention Gore in his announcement.
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/5/26/165650/825
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2005/5/26/165650/825
ALGOREismylife - May 26, 2005 09:38 PM (GMT)
| QUOTE (ap215 @ May 26 2005, 03:24 PM) |
| And speaking of ford he's in the race but doesn't mention Gore in his announcement. |
Just more disrespect, but with the trouble going on in Ford's family, maybe it's not a bad thing. :?:
Big Daddy Rich - May 27, 2005 03:08 AM (GMT)
Here's what Harold, Junior better do, quick, fast and in a hurry -- deliver a statement (himself, in a press conference, NOT in a written statement) saying "I love my Uncle John, he's my family, but if he is found to have broken the law, then he must pay the consequences." And that's it...repudiate that crazy old man immediately, and be done with it.