EdmundFordTrial's Blog

A teary-eyed Edmund Ford Sr. shook hands with family members and even prosecutors as he left Federal Court Wednesday afternoon. A jury found the former Memphis City Councilman innocent of three counts of extortion and three counts of bribery in a U.S. Federal Court.

"I love the Lord everyday," Ford shouted as he left the courtroom.

A jury of five men and seven women exonerated Ford after deliberating for about a day.

Local politico Joe Cooper agreed to act as an informant after he was charged in a money laundering scheme by federal officials.

Cooper wore a recording device and secretly taped meetings with Ford over several months. The government alleged that during that time, Cooper gave Ford $8,900 for performing a variety of tasks.  

Cooper asked Ford to get a development project approved by the city council, arrange a review of the city's billboard ordinance and have a new chairman of the Board of Adjustment picked.

However, Ford and attorney Michael Scholl argued that the payments were part of a $10,000 loan Cooper had promised Ford and some of the money was to cover late car payments and was provided by the lease's cosigner.

The jury saw several video clips of Ford appearing to take thousands of dollars from Cooper while the pair were discussing city business.

Later this summer, Ford and former MLGW president Joseph Lee will face trial for allegedly swapping favors while in positions of official power.

FOX13 will have live coverage of the story at five.