Newton says he got caught up in 'business as usual' on Hill

Tennessean
Aug. 31, 2005

State Rep. Chris Newton pleaded guilty in federal court yesterday and called for the end of the "corruptive influence of money in politics" — while a chorus of voices across the state grew louder in its calls for Newton to resign from office immediately.

The Republican from Cleveland, Tenn., admitted in federal court here that he was guilty of bribery and extortion, becoming the only one of five sitting or former state lawmakers to reverse his plea to guilty in the Operation Tennessee Waltz case.

Facing U.S. District Judge Jon McCalla yesterday, Newton explained, "I considered the money to be a contribution to my campaign," before formally telling the judge, "Guilty, your honor."

After the brief hearing, Newton said he got caught up in "business as usual" on Capitol Hill and, "I acknowledge and recognize that I was part of the problem."

"It is time for us to acknowledge candidly that the legislative process has become saturated with money and special interests," Newton said, reading from a prepared statement. "While many in our legislature have the best interests of the people at heart, the people deserve representatives who are entirely free from the corruptive influence of money in politics."

Newton has said he will resign from his elected post, which he has held for 11 years, on Nov. 1, well before his sentencing Feb. 22 as a convicted felon.

However, the head of the state's Republican Party yesterday renewed his call for Newton to leave office now, and Gov. Phil Bredesen, a Democrat, weighed in as well.

"I think that once you've pled guilty and admitted your guilt, yes, I think you ought to step down," Bredesen said yesterday at a news conference.

Newton said that waiting two months before resigning allows him time to wrap up work for constituents, gives potential candidates the opportunity to organize their campaigns and allows officials time to schedule a special election. The General Assembly isn't scheduled to meet again until January.

Between now and the day he said he will step down, Newton will collect at least $4,750 from his taxpayer-funded salary and other perks.

Newton also could make more, depending on how many trips to the Capitol he makes. Lawmakers are entitled to $141 per diem for each day they are in their Nashville offices. They also are reimbursed for mileage.

"How can you plead guilty and still serve?" asked freshman Republican Rep. Debra Young Maggart of Hendersonville. "It doesn't go hand-in-hand."

Freshman GOP House member and blogger Stacey Campfield of Knoxville, is listing Newton's home, work and fax numbers as well as his home address on his blog at lastcar.blogspot.com, so voters can "encourage Chris to change his time line."

"I am sure Chris would love to hear from his constituents any time 24/7 for the next few months," Campfield writes.

In the three months since his arrest, Newton has said he looked forward to his day in court and defied cries from fellow Republicans to step down.

But yesterday, he admitted guilt.

In his statement, Newton said, "Although I considered the money to be a contribution to my campaign, I know now that what we call 'the money' does not matter. It was wrong to accept the money at least in part for my agreement to support the bill, and my actions today are in recognition of my role in this matter."

As a convicted felon, he will lose his right to vote or be a juror. He faces a maximum of 20 years on the extortion charge and five years for bribery. Both counts carry a maximum fine of $250,000 each.

U.S. Attorney Tim DiScenza stopped short of saying Newton was a cooperating witness but told the judge that Newton "has been forthright and made himself available concerning his involvement."

Other sitting lawmakers indicted in Tennessee Waltz — Sen. Kathryn Bowers, D-Memphis, and Sen. Ward Crutchfield, D-Chattanooga — have said that they do not plan to resign.

The Waltz sting included seven arrests in the waning hours of the legislative session last May. Indicted were five former or sitting lawmakers and two men who shuttled payments between the elected officials and E-Cycle Management Inc., which was seeking favors from the state. E-Cycle was really a fake company set up by the FBI.

The "bagman" in Newton's case was Charles Love, a lobbyist and former member of the Hamilton County Board of Education. Love pleaded guilty Aug. 16.

According to indictments against Love and Newton, Love told representatives from E-Cycle that he had worked in the past "bearing gifts" to legislators, including Newton. Although Love told E-Cycle he would pay Newton $3,500, Newton received far less, just $1,500, to sponsor and support a bill for the company, DiScenza said in court.

Newton said he considered the funds a campaign donation and acknowledged to the judge that he was not in full compliance with state campaign laws by accepting more than limits permitted.

The state Registry of Election Finance said no records in 2004 show that Newton reported a $1,500 donation from either Love or E-Cycle. Had Newton reported it, he would have been in compliance with state campaign laws, which limits donations for both a primary and general election campaign at $2,000, Registry director Drew Rawlins said.