FBI agent summarizes case in Ford trial { John Ford - TN Waltz trial }

Memphis Commercial Appeal ^ | 4/23/7 | Trevor Aaronson

[SmithL]

Calling FBI agent Mark Jackson to the witness stand this morning, Asst. U.S. Atty. Tim DiScenza used the lawman as a summary witness to present a timeline that summed up the government’s case against former state Sen. John Ford:

• April 19, 2004 — FBI undercover agent L.C. McNeil introduces himself to state Sen. John Ford at a dinner in Nashville arranged by state Rep. Kathryn Bowers.

• July 17, 2004 — In Miami, Ford asks McNeil for $3,000 to $5,000 per month to draft and pass state legislation that would benefit E-Cycle. Ford expresses interest in E-Cycle’s initial public offering.

• July 28, 2004 — "I’m ready when you get back to get that done," Ford tells McNeil in a phone conversation, referring to the E-Cycle legislation.

• Aug. 18, 2004 — Ford tells McNeil he wants to be paid $10,000 upfront and $5,000 each month. Ford then explains which committee the bill will go to and reaffirms that he will sponsor the legislation.

• Aug. 19, 2004 — McNeil pays first cash payment made to Ford: $10,000. Ford takes an E-Cycle brochure and company paperwork, drafted by the FBI, describing the legislation E-Cycle wants.

• Aug. 23, 2004 — Ford calls McNeil and tells him he met with the General Assembly’s legal department to talk about the E-Cycle legislation.

• Aug. 26, 2004 — In a telephone conversation, Ford tells McNeil the rough draft of the legislation will be available next week so E-Cycle can review it.

• Sept. 7, 2004 — Ford asks McNeil for his fax number to send the draft legislation.

• Sept. 17, 2004 — McNeil pays Ford $5,000. Ford reads the draft legislation to McNeil and agrees with the undercover agent that the bill should be amended so public schools will not receive surplus computers.

• Sept. 28, 2004 — Ford and McNeil discuss the proposed legislation in a phone call. Ford says he’ll fax a new draft of the bill to McNeil.

• Oct. 6, 2004 — A summary of the legislation is faxed to E-Cycle’s office.

• Oct. 15, 2004 — McNeil pays Ford $5,000. Ford discusses making the legislation more exclusive for E-Cycle.

• Nov. 9, 2004 — Ford says the E-Cycle bill will be filed in January with "a bunch of bills" so it won’t draw attention, he tells McNeil in a phone conversation.

• Nov. 11, 2004 — In a phone conversation, Ford asks McNeil to send him more money.

• Nov. 17, 2004 — Ford tell McNeil in a phone conversation he will not pre-file the bill since it would allow the news media and others to look at the proposed legislation.

• Nov. 19, 2004 — Ford gives McNeil the final draft of the legislation. McNeil pays Ford $5,000 at E-Cycle’s Memphis office.

• Dec. 16, 2004 — Ford reassures McNeil the legislation will pass.

• Dec. 17, 2004 — McNeil pays Ford $5,000 at a Miami hotel.

• Jan. 6, 2005 — Ford tells McNeil in a phone conversation he will file "our bill this week, this next week."

• Jan. 12, 2005 — Ford pre-files Senate Bill 28. In a phone conversation, he tells McNeil the bill was filed.

• Jan. 13, 2005 — Ford tells McNeil in a phone conversation he will put a clause in the bill that will give E-Cycle more exclusivity. "We filed it, and we just pulled the other bill," Ford says of the revised legislation.

• Jan. 18, 2005 — The state Department of General Services recommends against passage of E-Cycle’s bill.

• Jan. 19, 2005 — Ford pre-files Senate Bill 94 with the definition of computer equipment identical to the list of equipment in E-Cycle’s brochure.

• Jan. 31, 2005 — McNeil pays Ford $5,000 in E-Cycle’s Nashville office.

• Feb. 1, 2005 — McNeil pays Ford $5,000 in his Senate office in Nashville.

• Feb. 3, 2005 — Ford expresses to Willis concerns McNeil might be working with law enforcement and E-Cycle might be an FBI shell company. A fiscal note is filed in the General Assembly, indicating the E-Cycle bill would increase state expenditure.

• Sometime after Feb. 3, 2005 — Ford aggressively questions General Services Commissioner Gwendolyn Sims Davis about the fiscal note and tells her she does not know "what the hell" she is doing.

• Feb. 14, 2005 — Ford tells McNeil he’ll get a new fiscal note.

• Feb. 17, 2005 — Ford tells McNeil he talked to Senate staff about changing the fiscal note.

• March 9, 2005 — Ford tells James White, executive director of the Fiscal Review Committee of the Tennessee General Assembly, to change the fiscal note.

• March 10, 2005 — Ford threatens McNeil, who pays Ford $5,000 in E-Cycle’s Memphis office.

• March 15, 2005 — Ford presents Senate Bill 94 to the Senate State and Local Government Committee, then chaired by state Sen. Steve Cohen. It passes 9-0. Ford learns McNeil is coming to Nashville. In a phone conversation, Ford asks FBI informant Tim Willis why McNeil is traveling to the capital. "Hell, we passed the bill. What’s his concerns?" Ford asks Willis.

• March 16, 2005 — At McNeil’s request, Ford agrees to delay the bill.

• March 17, 2005 — McNeil pays Ford $5,000 at the Sheraton Hotel in Nashville.

• March 23, 2005 — Rosemary Bates, Ford’s research analyst, e-mails Senate Chief Clerk Russell Humphrey asking him to keep E-Cycle’s bill off the legislative calendar.

• April 8, 2005 — Ford threatens to kill FBI undercover agents McNeil and Joe Carson. Ford agrees to delay legislation. McNeil pays Ford $5,000 outside The Peabody.

• May 26, 2005 — FBI agents arrest Ford in Nashville.

[Coldwater Creek]

I can’t wait for the movie! Maybe Jesse Jackson could pay John. Wouldn’t even have to study the script!

[kitkat]

In case anyone is wondering:

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,264844,00.html

“Ford, a Democrat who represented his Memphis district for 31 years, is a member of one of Tennessee’s most politically active families.”

[SmithL]

And, for more information about this entire scandal, click on keyword TNWaltz.

THE Republican caught in TN Waltz was Chris Newton. He admitted "What I did was wrong there's no doubt about that," while pleading guilty, without having a plea deal. He has already completed his sentence, while the Dems are still claiming that they were set-up, etc. John Ford's trial was delayed until after the `06 election to avoid damaging the Senate hopes of his nephew, Harold Ford, Jr.

I still firmly believe that a Ford can't lose an election or be convicted within Shelby County.

[SmithL]

Prosecution rests in Ford trial