Ex-wife of Ford also wants his Rolex

Says ex-senator pledged it in lieu of child support

First, John Ford wore the $70,000 Rolex watch, showing off the diamond-encrusted timepiece to his friends, including one undercover federal agent.

Then the feds took possession of the watch and are now hoping to keep it, claiming the Rolex was an "ill-gotten gain" received through criminal activities.

Ford's ex-wife said Sunday that she plans to sue to keep the watch, claiming her ex-husband promised the Rolex three years ago in lieu of child-support payments.

"When it comes down to that watch, I want to know how somebody can seize that watch when it's pledged to the family," Tamara Mitchell-Ford said in a telephone interview. "That watch was pledged in lieu of child support. And I want it."

Of course, it won't be as easy as that. When the federal government wants something, it stands a good chance of getting it.

Reached Sunday afternoon, U.S. Atty. David Kustoff would only say, "Since it involves pending litigation, I can't comment."

Mitchell-Ford, though, wasn't under any such restrictions.

"When I got divorced, I got nothing. No child support, no custody, no alimony. What was promised out of that was that watch," she said. "They're trying to seize something that's personal property. I'm getting ready to file a lawsuit against that watch. That is personal property pledged to my children to live on."

The 65-year-old Ford, who will be sentenced Aug. 27 for accepting $55,000 in cash bribes in exchange for influence, wasn't in a mood to talk to the media Sunday afternoon.

"Let me stop you right there," Ford said when reached on his cell phone. "Don't call me ever and tell me what my ex-wife has said."