John Ford's Troubled Past
The Tennessean lists the most notorious of Senator John Ford's troubles with the law:Controversy: In October 1990, Ford was charged with shooting at a trucker on Interstate 40 near Lexington. He was indicted and pleaded not guilty.
Outcome: In a jury trial the next year, he was acquitted.
Controversy: Memphis utility workers in 1997 accused the senator of threatening them with a loaded shotgun. Apparently, Ford became angry when the crew from Memphis Light, Gas and Water parked their vehicles in his driveway, making it difficult for his wife to exit in her car.
Outcome: The senator was placed on pretrial diversion and completed 250 hours of community service.
Controversy:In 2003, a survey of Ford's Federal Express charges on his state account revealed that he had used the account to send numerous personal packages.
Outcome: Ford apologized and agreed to pay $1,300 in reimbursement.
Controversy: Ford was ac-cused earlier this year of receiving a $15,000 contract from Johnson Controls, a major electronics manufacturer. Johnson Controls, based in Wisconsin, paid Ford a one-time consulting fee in September 2001 to help the company obtain energy-efficiency contracts for state buildings in 2003.
Outcome: The matter remains under examination by the Senate Ethics Committee. A report from the state attorney general's office, which was delivered to the Senate yesterday, said Johnson Controls had turned over its contract with Ford to investigators.
Controversy: Ford was ac-cused earlier this year of using campaign funds to pay for his daughter's wedding reception in 2003. Ford spent $15,320, claiming it was a legitimate election expense because 100 of his constituents were invited to the reception. The state Registry of Election Finance ruled the expenditure improper and fined him $10,000 this month.
Outcome: After the fine was announced, Ford said he would appeal. According to the state Registry of Election Finance, the senator has not yet appealed the ruling. By law, Ford has 14 days from the time he receives an official letter of notification from the state. The letter was mailed out this week.
Controversy: Information emerged earlier this year that Doral Dental, which holds a TennCare dental benefits management contract, paid Pennsylvania-based Managed Care Services Group Inc. $40,000 a month for about two years. Ford is a partner in a similarly named company with the same address. On his tax returns, Ford reported that a company called "Managed Care Services Group 1" paid him more than $237,000 in 2002 and 2003.
Outcome: A state attorney general's report issued yesterday said two former Doral executives exchanged an e-mail in 2002 that said, "According to Senator Ford, the deal is progressing nicely and it will be ours. … Please keep the existence of this arrangement confidential."
Controversy: During a January 2005 hearing in a child-support lawsuit brought by a North Carolina woman with whom Ford fathered a daughter, the senator claimed he should not have to pay more than $500 per month in support for the 10-year-old girl. It was at this hearing that Ford said he lived in two separate homes with two women whose children he fathered. Neither of the homes is in his Senate district.
Outcome: The suit is pending.
Blog post #5122 in category
Tennessee
posted 29 May 05