Some rank-and-file call for removal of indicted legislators

Federal prosecutors arrested four sitting lawmakers last week in an operation dubbed “Tennessee Waltz”, charging the officials with taking money from a fake company set up by the FBI.

Sen. John Ford resigned Saturday, and former state Sen. Roscoe Dixon left office earlier this year to work for the Shelby County mayor. But the three other indicted public officials seem intent on keeping their office.

Sen. Kathryn Bowers and Rep. Chris Newton, the only Republican charged in the bribery and extortion sting, have both said they plan to fight the charges while in office. Sen. Ward Crutchfield has said he is innocent, but has not talked to reporters about his arrest.

At court hearings for Ford, prosecutors played a video clip the FBI says shows Ford taking a $10,000 payoff. In all, Ford allegedly took $55,000 from undercover FBI agents.

If such evidence surfaces on the others, the House and Senate should move immediately to expel them, said Rep. Brian Kelsey, a Republican from Germantown, a Memphis suburb.

“I’m just saying if that evidence is produced, we have to act,” he said. “We don’t have to wait two years or whatever it would take for a full trial.”

Unlike an impeachment, each chamber of the General Assembly can act to expel one of its members with a two-thirds vote. First, each chamber’s ethics committee would have to be called to Nashville to look at the charges.

Legislative and political leaders say it’s too soon to act.

But others hope it doesn’t take convictions to remove Newton, Bowers and Crutchfield.

“Innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt is the standard we use for putting someone in jail — not the standard for allowing him to serve in public office,” Kelsey said. “We have a higher standard for public officials.

Rep. Chris Clem, R-Lookout Mountain, said the three indicted office holders should resign for the good of the state.

“If we were waiting for Nixon to be convicted we would still be waiting,” he said. “He was never charged.

“Maybe what is the best and the honorable thing is to resign sooner rather than later.”

State Democratic Party Chairman Randy Button and state GOP Chairman Bob Davis said neither of their parties have immediate plans to push for resignations.

“There’s a time and place for that,” Button said. “For now I think you should let the judicial system work.”

But Davis attacked the opinion that the FBI went too far in getting the lawmakers to take bribes.

After the arrests, Lt. Gov. and Senate Speaker John Wilder said the tactic was wrong and not God’s way. He also said he will treat the indicted lawmakers as full members of the Legislature.

Davis said the comments “were out of line and irresponsible and dangerous,” and he has asked Wilder to apologize.