MEMPHIS, Tennessee — UPDATE 3/24/2021 - Attorney Allan Wade has sent a letter to the chairman of the Shelby County Commission regarding the Edmund Ford Jr. investigation.
Wade said a group of citizens have come together to form a defense fund to support Edmund Ford Jr. In the letter, Wade disputes many of the claims in Mayor Lee Harris special counsel report.
Frankie Dakin, Press Secretary for Mayor Lee Harris, sent this statement from the Shelby County Mayor: “Mayor Harris has never had any conversations nor has he met with the special counsel hired to investigate an alleged quid pro quo against Commissioner Ford. Furthermore, Mayor Harris was not involved in any way in the decision to hire the special counsel. These are only allegations and everyone, including Mr. Ford, is entitled to the presumption of innocence. The Mayor plans to stay mission-focused on the work ahead, which includes advancing a series of ethical reforms that were already in the works, but that now seem even more urgent.”
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3/22/2021 - Statement from Shelby County District Attorney General Amy Weirich:
“Several weeks ago, I recused this office from the investigation into Commissioner Ford’s alleged actions and requested a special prosecutor. The Tennessee District Attorneys General Conference appointed General Robert Carter, 17th Judicial District, to lead the investigation. I recused this office to avoid any appearance of impropriety as we receive funding from the County Commission.”
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3/13/2021 - One commissioner is in hot water after an ethics report found that he violated the Shelby County charter following a conflict on interest.
But another commissioner says not so fact, don't rush to judgement.
"The issue was not a secret to us," said County Commissioner Van Turner. "We knew that the issue was out there. It was not a surprise."
Commissioner Turner is speaking on the conflict of interest involving Commissioner Edmund Ford Junior.
According to the Commercial Appeal, an attorney reported that ford did not disclose business relations he had with nonprofit Junior Achievement of Memphis and the Mid-South.
Ford also did not recuse himself from voting on a $450,000 grant to the non-profit, but left the room once the vote was called.
"There's a technical aspect to what's going on and then there's this aspect of intent," said Turner. "I think Commissioner Ford walked out the room and so his intent was to recuse from the vote and not vote on a matter which he may have an interest in."
Turner said Ford would be facing a difference scenario had he actually voted on the item.
"Him relying on his long years of experience as a city councilman may not have transitioned over to how we have to handle things on the county commission side."
According to the ethics report Junior Achievement spent $45,000 on technology from E&J Computers, a business Ford owns.
"We shouldn't rush to judgment, the fact that of the matter is that Commissioner Ford did walk out the room and took steps to not vote on the matter," Turner said.
The report said the matter should be referred to the County Ethics Commission for a hearing so they, if appropriate, can refer the matter to the right office to pursue ouster proceedings against Commissioner Ford.