Thanks to Phin for sending me this article....
Thanks to Phin for sending me this article....
Ford: I'm not a villain ------------------------------> :mj07:
Former senator says corruption lies not with him, but with the government Judge sets a tentative July 5 trial date for him, Bowers and Myers
By Sherri Drake and Lawrence Buser
Contact
June 9, 2005
Former state senator John Ford entered a not guilty plea to corruption charges Wednesday and then told reporters that government investigators are the corrupt ones.
Ford said it's no coincidence that charges filed against him and other legislators were announced soon after his nephew, U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr., declared his intention to run for the U.S. Senate.
The congressman wouldn't address his uncle's remarks.
FBI undercover agents set up a fake company -- complete down to business cards, phony officers and a Memphis office -- after tips that legislators were open to bribes.
"The government has tried to show me and others as being corrupt and villains when, in essence, they're the ones that are corrupt," Ford said. "They are the villains."
Ford, who's also charged with threatening to shoot witnesses, aimed harsh criticism at prosecutors' undercover sting.
"They are the ones that set up a fictitious, phony, illegal apparatus for whatever purpose that they wanted to serve."
U.S. Atty. Terry Harris said Wednesday the investigation was ethical and by the book, but wouldn't address Ford's criticisms.
"I'm not going to respond to that," Harris said at the Kiwanis Club luncheon at The Peabody. "All of our talking will be in the courtroom."
Authorities say Ford, state Sen. Kathryn Bowers and former state senator Roscoe Dixon took bribes from undercover agents to push legislation for the FBI's bogus company.
Five current or former state legislators and two political operatives have been charged in the sting dubbed Operation Tennessee Waltz.
Ford, Bowers and alleged bagman Barry Myers entered not guilty pleas Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tu Pham.
Pham set a July 5 trial date in the unlikely event that both sides are ready.
After court, Bowers said: "I know that I have two people with me, and that's my attorney and the Lord."
Attorney William Massey, who represents Bowers, said it likely will be at least 90 days before a trial. He said her trial should be separate from Ford's.
"This lady is a fighter and we've begun the process," Massey said.
Myers said, "I'm strong and praying."
Dixon, who resigned as a top aide to Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton, will be arraigned next week with Sen. Ward Crutchfield, D-Chattanooga, Rep. Chris Newton, R-Cleveland, and Charles Love, a Chattanooga lobbyist.
In the sting, E-Cycle agents sought legislation to help them buy used computer equipment from state and local governments to recycle overseas.
Indictments say Ford took $55,000 in illegal payments, Crutchfield and Love, $12,000; Bowers and Myers, $11,500; Dixon and Myers, $9,500, and Newton and Love, $4,000.
In Memphis on Wednesday, Gov. Phil Bredesen denied Ford's charge that legislators were targeted because they opposed TennCare cuts, noting his own work to save the program.
"The charges aren't a conspiracy," Bredesen said.
:mj07: :mj07:
Thanks to Phin for sending me this article....
Ford: I'm not a villain ------------------------------> :mj07:
Former senator says corruption lies not with him, but with the government Judge sets a tentative July 5 trial date for him, Bowers and Myers
By Sherri Drake and Lawrence Buser
Contact
June 9, 2005
Former state senator John Ford entered a not guilty plea to corruption charges Wednesday and then told reporters that government investigators are the corrupt ones.
Ford said it's no coincidence that charges filed against him and other legislators were announced soon after his nephew, U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr., declared his intention to run for the U.S. Senate.
The congressman wouldn't address his uncle's remarks.
FBI undercover agents set up a fake company -- complete down to business cards, phony officers and a Memphis office -- after tips that legislators were open to bribes.
"The government has tried to show me and others as being corrupt and villains when, in essence, they're the ones that are corrupt," Ford said. "They are the villains."
Ford, who's also charged with threatening to shoot witnesses, aimed harsh criticism at prosecutors' undercover sting.
"They are the ones that set up a fictitious, phony, illegal apparatus for whatever purpose that they wanted to serve."
U.S. Atty. Terry Harris said Wednesday the investigation was ethical and by the book, but wouldn't address Ford's criticisms.
"I'm not going to respond to that," Harris said at the Kiwanis Club luncheon at The Peabody. "All of our talking will be in the courtroom."
Authorities say Ford, state Sen. Kathryn Bowers and former state senator Roscoe Dixon took bribes from undercover agents to push legislation for the FBI's bogus company.
Five current or former state legislators and two political operatives have been charged in the sting dubbed Operation Tennessee Waltz.
Ford, Bowers and alleged bagman Barry Myers entered not guilty pleas Wednesday before U.S. Magistrate Judge Tu Pham.
Pham set a July 5 trial date in the unlikely event that both sides are ready.
After court, Bowers said: "I know that I have two people with me, and that's my attorney and the Lord."
Attorney William Massey, who represents Bowers, said it likely will be at least 90 days before a trial. He said her trial should be separate from Ford's.
"This lady is a fighter and we've begun the process," Massey said.
Myers said, "I'm strong and praying."
Dixon, who resigned as a top aide to Shelby County Mayor A C Wharton, will be arraigned next week with Sen. Ward Crutchfield, D-Chattanooga, Rep. Chris Newton, R-Cleveland, and Charles Love, a Chattanooga lobbyist.
In the sting, E-Cycle agents sought legislation to help them buy used computer equipment from state and local governments to recycle overseas.
Indictments say Ford took $55,000 in illegal payments, Crutchfield and Love, $12,000; Bowers and Myers, $11,500; Dixon and Myers, $9,500, and Newton and Love, $4,000.
In Memphis on Wednesday, Gov. Phil Bredesen denied Ford's charge that legislators were targeted because they opposed TennCare cuts, noting his own work to save the program.
"The charges aren't a conspiracy," Bredesen said.
:mj07: :mj07:
