Three state senators arrested by FBI in Tenn...commentary by me

[MORTARDUDE]

It is especially sweet when corrupt "lawmakers" are caught for their dirty dealings. Of course, we all know at the city, county, state, and the federal level..because of the fact that incumbents seem to get re-elected over and over, that graft and corruption becomes second nature to many politicians...One of these in particular...Tenn. State Senator John Ford of Memphis, is hands down the most arrogant.."I can do anything I want and you can't do a damned thing about it", elected officials I have ever seen. Kudos to the FBI. Put them all away for a long long time !

Larry

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http://www.wmctv.com/Global/story.asp?S=3395997

Four lawmakers, one ex-lawmaker arrested amid extortion investigation
May 26, 2005, 12:10 PM


John Ford indictment
Kathryn Bowers and Barry Myers indictment
Roscoe Dixon indictment

Federal authorities indicted four lawmakers, a former lawmaker and two others as part of a corruption probe into the business dealings of state Sen. John Ford of Memphis. Those charged were Ford; state Sen. Kathryn Bowers, D-Memphis; state Rep. Chris Newton, R-Benton; state Sen. Ward Crutchfield, D-Chattanooga; and Roscoe Dixon, a former state senator who is now a top aide to Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton. Federal authorities said during a news conference Thursday that the charges were extortion and accepting bribes following a two-year undercover operation dubbed "Tennessee Waltz." The grand jury returned the indictments in Memphis. Also charged were Barry Myers and Charles Love. Myers couldn't immediately be identified. Love is a member of the Hamilton County School Board. "We hope it will bring back some of the trust back to state government," said Tennessee Bureau of Investigation Director Mark Gwyn. 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. 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 & Associates in Chattanooga, said last week that he lobbied legislators on behalf of an Atlanta company, E-Cycle Management, even though records show he was not registered to work for that firm. 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.