Several Tennessee state legislators have been arrested by federal investigators after a two-year undercover operation that identified massive corruption in bribes and kickbacks. Most of those arrested have been Democrats, including two leaders of the party, one an uncle to rising Democratic moderate Rep. Harold Ford, Jr:

Four Tennessee lawmakers, a former lawmaker and two others were indicted Thursday amid a federal investigation into the business dealings of a state senator from Memphis from a powerful political family, officials said.

Those charged included the senator, John Ford; fellow Sens. Kathryn Bowers and Ward Crutchfield; state Rep. Chris Newton; and former state Sen. Roscoe Dixon. Newton is a Republican and the others are Democrats.

Federal authorities said during a news conference Thursday that the charges were extortion and accepting bribes following a two-year undercover operation dubbed "Tennessee Waltz." The grand jury returned the indictments in Memphis.

Ford has been under investigation for his consulting deals with companies doing business with the state.

His brother is former U.S. Rep Harold Ford Sr., who served in Congress for 11 terms. His nephew, Rep. Harold Ford Jr., has served five terms in Congress and on Wednesday entered the race for the Senate seat now held by Republican Majority Leader Bill Frist.

John Ford faces more problems than just corruption charges. He also faces charges of making threats to kill FBI agents, something that guarantees to make his nephew think twice before maintaining his challenge for Bill Frist's seat. From the LA Times/AP report on the investigation so far, it appears that John Ford was at the center of the corruption.

Republicans should be careful not to get too far ahead of themselves until the authorities can release information on the scope of the investigation. Right now, five of the six arrested and indicted are Democrats, including Memphis party leader and state representative Kathryn Bowers. However, corruption as a rule does not necessarily contain itself along partisan lines -- and any self-righteous backslapping now may appear pretty petty and shortsighted later on. Let's hope for everyone's sake that this is the extent to which the Tennessee legislature has been corrupted, and that they can bounce back quickly to address the legitimate business of the people.

UPDATE: GOP and the City has pictures of the allegedly corrupt politicians.

UPDATE II: Don't know why I didn't mention this earlier, but Bill Hobbs is all over this story, with excellent minute-by-minute coverage.

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