Boyohboyohboyohboy.
Less than 24 hours after Harold Ford Jr. files for and officially announced his candidacy for the US Senate, his uncle John, along with three other legislators, an ex-legislator, and two others, were arrested and indicted on corruption charges in an ongoing investigation by the FBI and the TBI.
The charges include accepting illegal payments in return for supporting legislation created to help eCycle, an "undercover" company set up to dispose of computer equipment. Ford was reportedly approached about this legislation, and, per the indictment, told the eCycle representative that "you are talking to the guy who makes the deals".
Ford reportedly received $55,000 in illegal payments. Allegedly joining him on the gravy train were Senator Ward Crutchfield (D-Chattanooga), a former Senate Democratic leader, newly elected Senator Kathryn Bowers (D-Memphis), who also serves as Shelby County Democratic Party chair, Representative Chris Newton (R-Cleveland), along with former Senator Roscoe Dixon of Memphis, recently replaced by Bowers.
Also named in the indictments as 'bag men" were Charles Love of Chattanooga and Barry Myers of Memphis, who Dixon had wanted to serve in an interim capacity as his replacement in the Senate. Former SCDP chair Sidney Chism received the appointment instead.
As someone who has been involved in Democratic politics here for over 25 years, this is a punch in the gut. I hope that this is smoke and mirrors; however, given the detail of the indictment, I am not holding my breath for a positive outcome.
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