NASHVILLE — Nearly five years after his arrest in the FBI’s 2005 Tennessee Waltz bribery sting, former state Sen. Ward Crutchfield, D-Chattanooga, was again the center of attention at the state Capitol on Tuesday.
This time, however, the hoopla came from several friendly former legislative colleagues, a one-time staffer and lobbyists who greeted him warmly in his first visit here since resigning his seat in 2007.
“I wanted to renew acquaintances with my old friends,” said Mr. Crutchfield, 81. “I love the legislature.”
Among those greeting Mr. Crutchfield was Sen. Thelma Harper, D-Nashville, who told the former lawmaker, “I miss you.” Mr. Crutchfield once served as the state Senate majority leader.
The political veteran’s half-century political career came to an end as a result of the sting that caught up four then-lawmakers and a lawmaker-turned lobbyist. In the Tennessee Waltz, the FBI set up a front company called E-Cycle Management that offered bribes for government favors.
Mr. Crutchfield pleaded guilty to a bribery-related offense of taking $3,000 from an undercover operative. In January 2008, he received a sentence of two years of probation with a 6-month period of home confinement.
But with that behind him, he visited and talked with friends. Meanwhile, a rumor circulated that the veteran of state and Hamilton County politics is talking about writing a book.
“I have no comment — yet,” he said as he held his index finger to his lips in a shushing gesture.
Andy Sher is a Nashville-based staff writer covering Tennessee state government and politics for the Times Free Press. A Washington correspondent from 1999-2005 for the Times Free Press, Andy previously headed up state Capitol coverage for The Chattanooga Times, worked as a state Capitol reporter for The Nashville Banner and was a contributor to The Tennessee Journal, among other publications. Andy worked for 17 years at The Chattanooga Times covering police, health care, county government, ...
A gathering of crooks.
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