Lawmakers question credibility of ‘Tennessee Waltz’ tapes
At least 12 legislators, who have not been charged with any wrongdoing, are discussed by FBI agents or people they were recording, according to transcripts reviewed by the Knoxville News Sentinel.
The transcripts emerged during the recent federal trial of Hamilton County Commissioner William Cotton, who was found guilty on two corruption charges.
Cotton is among seven officials — including five current or former state lawmakers — indicted in connection with the federal undercover sting operation that became public in May.
Former state Rep. Chris Newton, R-Cleveland, and Charles Love, a lobbyist and former member of Hamilton County Board of Education, have pleaded guilty.
Newton, who admitted taking a $1,500 bribe during the FBI sting, was sentenced to a year in prison last week.
Testimony from Cotton’s trial gave glimpses of how wide a net was spread at the Legislature by undercover investigators, who lobbied lawmakers to support E-Cycle Management Inc., a bogus firm set up as part of the undercover sting.
A tape played for jurors included undercover FBI agent Joseph Carroll questioning Love about trying to get legislative favors from state lawmakers not charged in the case, including Sen. Jeff Miller, R-Cleveland; Sen. David Fowler, R-Signal Mountain; and Rep. Tre’ Hargett, R-Bartlett.
Miller, who has said he received a legal $1,000 cash campaign contribution from an undercover operative, is being investigated in the case.
Two sitting Tennessee lawmakers — state Sen. Ward Crutchfield, D-Chattanooga, and state Sen. Kathryn Bowers, D-Memphis — face corruption charges in the case and have pleaded not guilty.
State Rep. Joe Armstrong, D-Knoxville, who is mentioned in two of the transcripts involving conversations between Love and Carroll, says the recordings amount to “just throwing out names.”
Armstrong has reported accepting two campaign contributions from Love — $500 given by Love as an individual, and another $600 was in the name of “Love and Associates PAC.”
“I’m really surprised at all the names and all this stuff that was coming up,” said Armstrong. “I’m like everybody else. I don’t know anything about all this except what I read in the paper.”
Other legislators mentioned on the tapes have had similar reactions. Hargett has said he was surprised and angered by the comments because he had received nothing from those involved in the investigation.
Some of the other legislators who are not charged with a crime but are discussed on the tapes have also acknowledged receiving legal campaign contributions. They include Reps. Ulysses Jones and Larry Miller, both Democrats from Memphis.
Others mentioned on the tapes include House Majority Leader Kim McMillan, D-Clarksville; House Speaker Pro Tempore Lois DeBerry, D-Memphis; Lt. Gov. John Wilder, D-Mason; House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh, D-Covington; Reps. Tommie Brown, D-Chattanooga, and Joan Favors, D-Chattanooga; and former Rep. Jim Vincent, R-Soddy Daisy.
In some cases, the references are conversational, including those involving Wilder and Naifeh. For example, Love compares Wilder, 84, to the late U.S. Sen. Strom Thurmond of South Carolina.
Love also mentions meeting McMillan and refers to her as “on my original list.” After discussing her hometown of Clarksville, Love adds, “It looks pretty good.”
McMillan said she was “surprised, quite frankly” at Love bringing up her name because she said she does not know him and has no recollection of ever meeting him.
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Information from: The Knoxville News Sentinel, http://www.knoxnews.com