Posted on 11/30/2006 7:50:55 PM PST by LdSentinal
Two city councilmen, including the uncle of U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Jr., were charged Thursday with taking thousands of dollars of bribes in exchange for their votes to allow new billboards in the city.
Memphis council members Edmund Ford and Rickey Peete face federal charges that they took nearly $7,000 and $12,000, respectively, from an informant.
Edmund Ford comes from a prominent political family in Memphis: His brother is former U.S. Rep. Harold Ford Sr., the first black congressman in Tennessee, and his nephew is Ford Jr., the unsuccessful Democratic nominee for U.S. Senate in November.
The informant paid the council members between Aug. 30 and Oct. 27 in exchange for their votes on a real estate proposal and the repeal of a moratorium on putting up billboards in the city, the FBI said. The informant, whose identity wasn't released, made audio and video recordings of cash payments to the men, the charges said.
The informant began working with federal agents after he was indicted on criminal charges in an unrelated investigation, the charges against the councilmen said.
Peete made an initial court appearance Thursday and was released on his own recognizance. Ford had not yet appeared Thursday evening. Neither Peete nor Ford returned phone calls seeking comment.
The charges carry a maximum punishment of 20 years in prison and $250,000 in fines.
Peete was convicted on a separate federal bribery charge in 1998 while on the Memphis City Council and was sentenced to 2 1/2 years in prison.
After serving his time, Peete's voting rights were restored and he was re-elected to the City Council.
The charges are unrelated to the 2005 public corruption sting that ensnared five former and current Tennessee lawmakers, including Edmund Ford's brother, state Sen. John Ford.
So what's Jr. going to do now that he lost? I doubt that he's going to go away...
He said he was going to marry that girlfriend that nobody saw after the election.
...and the hits keep on a-comin'...
Rumor has it they want to have him run for Memphis Mayor. If he's smart, he'll not do it. If he does it, the morass of city politics will permanently destroy his career. No one has ever moved up from serving as Memphis Mayor.
I lived in Tenn. for 18mos. back in the '80s. I am absolutely floored that Harold Ford even got as close as he did.
I guess Junior will attempt to regain his old house seat. Although, I wish Junior would challenge Lamar! in 2008. A member of the Ford Family is a gift to Lamar!.
A family tradition!
I don't believe he will run for his House seat. The White Congressman-elect has no intention of yielding it, especially after waiting a quarter-century to get it. The likelihood is that the Fords will back Nikki Tinker, who came close to winning the nomination this time. Junior has floated the notion of challenging Lamar! but he has to be crazy if he thinks he'll unseat him in what will be a bad year for the 'Rats. I detest Lamar! but would be surprised if Junior made it to 40% this time around.
I still live here, and I was shocked as well!
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