Another Conviction in ‘Tennessee Waltz’
EmailGrainy videotapes, hundred dollar bills and prominent politicians have made the FBI’s Operation Tennessee Waltz a case study in how federal agents investigate public corruption. A state senator was convicted yesterday, and three more are awaiting trial. The most prominent of the officials charged is State Senator John Ford, a Democrat, the uncle of Congressman Harold Ford, Jr. (D-TN). Senator Ford, who has since resigned, has pled not guilty to charges he took $55,000 in bribes from undercover FBI agents posing as businessmen seeking state contracts. The FBI’s "Tennessee Waltz" undercover videotape shows Ford taking $10,000 in hundred dollar bills. When the agent asks if he wants to count the money, Sen. Ford says, "I ain’t trying to count. I trust you." The tape shows Ford stuffing the first $5,000 in his back pocket. Ford puts the second $5,000 wad of cash in his suit coat. He is scheduled to go on trial October 2. A former Democratic State Senator, Roscoe Dixon, was convicted yesterday of extortion conspiracy and taking bribes. A former Republican State Representative, Chris Newton, is currently serving a one-year prison sentence after pleading guilty to bribery charges growing out of the undercover sting. The Justice Department reports that between the year 2000 and 2004 there were 3,519 convictions of corrupt federal, state and local public officials.
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There are a lot of pigs feeding at the public trough via our taxes! Be careful who you vote for – power corrupts.
Posted by: Lynne H | June 9, 2006, 3:30 pm 3:30 pm
I am from Illinois. I’ve seen corruption in politics, in this state, for many years. There isn’t enough space to post all the illegal activities throughout history, even today as ex-Gov GEORGE RYAN is convicted.
Today the Mafia and Pocket Picking Politicians are still riding the Underground Railroad.
Democrats and Republicans alike feed at the trough.
Giving “contracts” to cronies for “favors”.
Allowing “bribes” for “licenses”.
Shoeboxes full of money hidden in closets from “kickbacks, and fraudulent charges”. Excessive “padded bills”.
Fraudulent activities, Paybacks, and any kind of corruption thinkable.
Oh yes, and many
killings, disappearances, and even a few massacres.
Today the “unions” are drying up somewhat as the major Corporations leave Illinois for the southern states and countries. And with them go the power and the money needed to invite corruption.
Voting for your POLITICIAN, Lynne?
The way politicians get elected is the most corrupt of all. Contributions? What a farce!
Big Corp….Big bucks… little envelopes. Big smiles! Best Buds!
Politics has become a vicious, sport game of Greet ‘N’ Cheat, and Lie ‘N’ Spy for the wannabe and very rich.
Voting is a joke. Illegals VOTE because they have drivers licenses!!! They can and will vote and the politicians know this…but they will deny it!
I had to register at the courthouse, with birth certificate, drivers license,
and a valid mailing address for the past 10 years but that was 15 years ago.
NOW they register the day of voting by some illegal passing out forms??? and nobody checks status or validity???
It’s a crap shoot! Because if they are crooked enough….they are almost assured a win!
Electronic voting? NOT HACKPROOF!
No paper ballot for recount.
Paper ballots? Not cheat-proof.
Ballot stuffers for deceased voters and illegals and out of state. Border states…multiple voting.
Maybe we should have a “KING” then we could put “career politicians” out of business. (grin)
Shar
Posted by: Shar | June 10, 2006, 6:41 pm 6:41 pm
All of this underscores what the Founding Fathers firmly believed–elected office was never intended to be anything other than a brief stint of voluntary, (i.e.,non-paid) public service for average citizens. The entire concept of making a profitable career out of such work was and is ludicrous, as it virtually guarantees gross inefficiency, cronyism, and the absolute corruption we see these days.
Posted by: Mark Sanders | June 12, 2006, 9:21 am 9:21 am