Posted on 08/27/2007 7:41:50 PM PDT by SmithL
John Ford made an emotional plea to a federal judge for leniency this afternoon in a sentencing hearing for his bribery conviction.
The hearing adjourned at 6:20 p.m. after almost four hours of arguments by attorneys and testimony from character witnesses, including state legislators, community leaders and family members.
The hearing will resume tomorrow morning, when U.S. Dist. Court Judge J. Daniel Breen will sentence Ford, a once-powerful legislator who now has thrown himself on the mercy of the court.
"I talk too much," the 65-year-old Ford told the judge, gripping a podium. "That's been a problem, but it's in the past. I watched the tapes in the trial and I am just completely ashamed of myself. I made mistakes and some of them were egregious."
Ford was convicted of accepting $55,000 in bribes from undercover FBI agents posing as crooked businessmen looking for help on legislation. He is one of five state lawmakers -- and 11 of 12 defendants overall -- who have been convicted or pleaded guilty in the public corruption investigation known as the Tennessee Waltz.
On audio and video shown to jurors in April, Ford uses vulgarities, tells one informant he will "shoot you dead" if he crosses him and is seen stuffing payoff money in his back pocket.
"I'm only human," Ford said, his voice breaking. "I did a lot of good for a lot of people, and I never asked for anything for my help. I trusted people. I should have known better. But I am not blaming anyone else. I take full responsibility."
Ford spoke after the last of 13 character witnesses testified his behalf.
"I couldn't ask for a better father," said Dr. Autumn Ford Bennett, one of his 12 children. "It was his love and encouragement that helped me become what I am. My dad doesn't have a bad bone in his body."
Connie Mathews, who has two children fathered by Ford, said he is a loving father not only to her children, but to the other children Ford has with his former wife and another woman.
"John Ford is a good man and an excellent father," Mathews told the judge. "All of the kids love him. John has been there for all of them."
His sister, Joyce Ford Miller, said Ford is a great brother.
"Everything is centered around his (youngest) baby and the girls and boys," she said.
Other character witnesses told the judge of the good work Ford has done is providing funding for mental health institutions and community improvements.
"He was good at multitasking," said another witness, Osbie Howard. "At one point he had three cell phones and he was talking on all three at the same time ... and making sense on each one."
"He's a fun guy and hard working," said retired state representative Alvin King. "You could depend on John. He was the go-to person. He was an outstanding legislator. He got a lot of things passed."
Turning to Breen, King said Ford tends to brag, but that he is a good person and deserves leniency.
Rep. Ulysses Jones also testified in the sentencing hearing, noting that Ford would support and promote bills for his colleagues to help get them passed.
"He's already missed in the legislature," said Jones. "He did a lot of good for a lot of people, not only in this county but also in the state. There's a lot of people who miss Sen. Ford."
Earlier in the day, defense attorney Michael Scholl took issue with the pre-sentencing report, which he said unfairly favored the government.
Scholl argued that Ford's monthly $5,000 payment from undercover agents was part of a single bribe which would place his client on lower sentencing scale.
"This was only one set of bribes and it had an ending date when the bill passed," said Scholl, referring to legislation Ford promised to handle for the agents.
Federal prosecutor Tim DiScenza contended that the payments were multiple bribes.
"It was open-ended," he said. "There was no fixed amount."
Defense and prosecutors also argued over the value of a Rolex watch that was taken Ford when he was arrested on the bribery charges.
Ford had boasted to undercover agents that the watch was a gift from developer Rusty Hyneman for saving him more than a million dollars in his business dealings with the state of Tennessee.
Among those watching in the crowded courtroom are U.S. Atty. David Kustoff and Memphis FBI chief My Harrison.
The article doesn’t mention party, but all of the Memphis Fords are Democrats, including John’s nephew, Harold Ford, Jr.
Rot in jail please, thanks.
Throw this douchebag in jail.
That’s the reason we have laws. Good people who break the law are judged by the same laws as bad people. In other words, we are not judged on being “good” or “bad” but whether we break or obey the laws.
No excuse — in fact — it makes the crime all the more serious. A man who has everything, love of his family, respect — and then he steals and takes bribes — all the while claiming to be a public servant. In fact, he used his political position to steal. Jail time is appropriate.
Right, he’s such a good man that he threatens to shoot someone dead if they cross him, and he’s still whining like he’s the victim, saying that this happened because he “trusted people”. What a loser.
He’s a Democrat, right? He’ll get off easy. It’s an unwritten rule . . . only Republicans do hard time.
....if ya' can't do the time....don't do the crime..BUMP
Yes and he got caught this time. how many times did he get away with it and how many people did he screw? its for the children lol.
I wonder if he ever took any real bribes, not just ones manufactured by the government. I guess noone that would have actually bribed him would come forward, though.
That entire LONG article was nothing but a puff piece for the Ford family.
I can’t believe the word DEMOCRAT was left out of the entire thing!!!!!
Wonder if FNC will report this...it will be embarassing for JUNIOR a FNC contributor?
friends@foxnews.com
ask them if FNC intend to report the conviction and sentencing of the 'big cheese' caught in the TN Waltz Sting? Or don't they want to embarass FNC contributor and former US Rep Harold Ford, Jr. I did.
We love our children very much. Aside from right vs. wrong, this is only one reason why we refrain from breaking the law.
If you love your children, you will do everything you can to make sure you are there for them.
If he’s so worried about his children, he should have stayed on the straight and narrow.
Hmm, 5 1/2 years, not bad. And we’re supposed to feel sorry for this extortionate mobster?
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