Lawmakers watch and wait as federal probe continues to unfold

Legislators said they have heard the rumors that more arrests are on the way, but don’t know if it will include local officials like the one nabbed last week or more state lawmakers.

Like in May, when four sitting lawmakers were arrested on their way to work, they expect to be the last to know.

“I believe the Department of Justice and the FBI know a lot more about these investigations than I do,” said House Speaker Jimmy Naifeh.

Just last week, pressure mounted in the Legislature to react when former state Rep. Chris Newton pleaded guilty and resigned. At the same time, it became very clear the Tennessee Waltz sting is not over.

Another indictment was handed down last week, this time against a local Shelby County official, as the grand jury sent notice its work isn’t finished.

It’s unknown if other lawmakers will be arrested — and federal authorities are predictably quiet about their ongoing investigation or if Newton is now feeding them information.

“I just hear there are other indictments coming down,” said House Republican caucus chairman Charles Sargent of Franklin. “No one has said if it just going to be county commissioners or local school board members or legislators.

“I don’t think any of us truly knows except for the grand jury and the FBI.”

The lawmakers have proven ready to pounce on arrested colleagues once they resign — as in the case of Newton and former state Sen. John Ford, who is pleading innocent.

But lawmakers are by and large taking it easy on the two who are staying in office and fighting the charges, Sens. Ward Crutchfield and Kathryn Bowers.

Sen. Doug Jackson, D-Dickson, said they should only resign “if they know in their heart of hearts” they are guilty.

“I believe them innocent until proven guilty,” said Sen. Tommy Kilby, D-Wartburg.

That opinion isn’t held by a lot of voters. It’s not hard these days to find citizens upset with the legislature.

“I’m sure there’s a lot we don’t even know about,” said Philip Rogers, a 29-year-old Nashville resident, while walking by Legislative Plaza. “They should feel lucky if they don’t all get arrested.”

Legislators, defending themselves against charges from Newton that what he did is “business as usual” in Nashville, were angry and indignant at comments likely to worsen their public image.

“I have never heard of a bribe being offered in my 18 years (in the Legislature),” said Jackson.

Lawmakers are trying their best at damage control, though, and are rushing work by a special panel to draft tougher ethics laws for the state. But leaders say new guilty pleas or arrests won’t force them to rush their work, or change their plans.

Naifeh said he would continue “waiting and listening” as the Tennessee Waltz case unfolds rather than talking about it.

Gov. Phil Bredesen, who has his own panel drafting ideas for new laws in anticipation of a special session late this year or early next year, said officials already have more than enough reason to act.

“The arrests in the spring are plenty enough to focus on this,” he said.

Bredesen said he thinks it’s best for his independent panel to finish its work first, especially since they are removed from the legislative environment.

“Let’s do this in an orderly fashion. Let’s get their (independent ethics panel) report first. Let’s get some meaningful legislation. Then let’s call a special session.”

The governor also said that he expects this time next year, we’ll see a huge difference in our ethics policies and expects Tennessee will then “lead the nation in ethics” reform.