Closing Arguments

11:04 a.m.

Closing arguments have begun in the Edmond Ford Trial.

GOVERNMENT-

The prosecutor is giving a summary of how we got from a drug bust which lead to Joe Cooper who led the FBI to Ed Ford.

 We are hearing a time line of what the government (prosecutors) say happened in this case, that Joe Cooper paid Edmund Ford for his influence on the Memphis City Council on a billboard ordinance and permit.

The first count has to do with getting a billboard in a place where it was rejected, the second count has to do with Ford offering to influence other elected leaders, the third count has to do with helping to remove the head of the board of adjustments. There are three other counts for similar acts.

11:21: a.m.

Prosecutor says it is not necessary for either person to verbally say money is being given for influence for the act to happen, “Every time the money goes in the pocket, they’re talking about what Mr. Ford will do.”

“The average citizen doesn’t have someone showing up with thousands of dollars.”

The jury appears to be listening but someone next to me noticed most have glazed over expressions.

11:45 a.m.

You may remember yesterday I commented that on the stand, Ford came across as combative even telling the prosecutor questions he didn’t think were proper. Now the prosecutors are telling jurors that yesterday, “…you me the real Mr. Ford, one that doesn’t do what he doesn’t want to do.” When the prosecutors started talking about Ford’s arrogance, several jurors had smirks on their faces.

Prosecutors are using an overhead computer projector that shows four boxes, each with surveillance video in them and key words from the transcript under them. My take is this reinforces how many tapes the prosecutors have.

Prosecution has finished its closing argument.

DEFENSE- 

Mike Scholl says this case is a travesty of justice.

“This case is about a lying deceiving witness, a hustler. Evidence manipulated by FBI agents and during closing arguments manipulation again. let me show you five sentences from a 5 or 10 minute clip.”

You heard from the lying criminal, Joe Cooper.

Scholl says there is no evidence prior to the FBI’s investigation that Ford took money from anyone.

Scholl, “This is just shock, it should be shocking to sit and watch how you can take pieces of a conversation and set up anyone.” 

Scholl is recounting a story of quoting a customer a retainer fee of $1000 and then meeting up with the man a few days later. Scholl says the man asked him about needing an attorney for some real estate dealings. Scholl said he told the man he could set him up with someone. The man then handed Scholl the $1000 for the retainer fee. Scholl says it struck him that the situation could be used to set him up, could be seen as a bribe.

Scholl says FBI agents weren’t prepared for this case and didn’t take it seriously. Scholl says the prosecutions case was “disgusting”.

 Scholl says the first day of testimony, Cooper was prepared and said he said he recorded all interactions with Ford but later we learned that wasn’t true. Scholl asks the jury to watch the entire tapes not the ones edited by the prosecutors.

Scholl, “Every time money is discussed in this case, it’s discussed with car payments and Ford’s business.”

“I think you’ll find Mr. Ford is innocent.”

Defense concludes its closing argument.