Posted on 08/16/2005 4:29:35 PM PDT by Thanatos
A Chattanooga lobbyist has pleaded guilty on federal bribery charges saying he delivered kickbacks to two lawmakers.
Charles Love is one of two lobbyists accused of delivering bribes from undercover agents to Senator Ward Crutchfield and Rep. Chris Newton in a sting coined "Tennessee Waltz". Both lawmakers are being charged with bribery and extortion.
Prosecutors say Love took money to lawmakers on behalf of E-cycle, which was a fake company the F-B-I set up.
Love is the second defendant to plead guilty in the case. Barry Myers told a judge he passed FBI bribes to Sen. Kathryn Bowers and Former Sen. Roscoe Dixon. Sen. John Ford is also charged in the case. He resigned two days after being arrested.
Love still faces up to 20 years in prison. But if he cooperates with prosecutors, a judge could lower his sentence. He won't find out about that though -- until February.
Charles Love also plans to resign from his school board seat on the Hamilton County school board. Love says he's sending a letter of resignation today.
Ah come on! This can't possibly be true.
Sorry, WVTF is in Nashville
I'm under the impression that Newton is the lone Republican in the sting.
Tennessee Waltz Ping
Chris Newton is a Republican.
2 down, 5 to go, it will take a couple of years for the other 5 as the are lawmakers or former ones and are sticking to their stories of being innocent. If any one cops a plea it will be Bowers because of her age...she is as ancient as helen thomas and as ugly.
Well at least not Jerry Springer embarrassing us folks born in TN this time
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