Former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada (R), ex-aide, guilty in federal corruption case
A jury convicted former House Speaker Glen Casada and his ex-top aide on corruption charges tied to a secretive political vendor.
The 12-person jury found Casada guilty of 17 counts of fraud, bribery, theft, conspiracy and money laundering and Cade Cothren, who left his chief of staff post amid a racist and sexist texting scandal in 2019, guilty on all 19 counts of fraud and kickbacks, stemming from his bogus signature of “Matthew Phoenix” on a federal W-9 tax form and state direct deposit document.
Both will be released on bond until sentencing on September 12, but attorneys for the pair say they felt confident about their cases and will appeal the verdicts. Just one fraud conviction comes with a maximum sentence of 20 years in prison and a $250,000 fine.
Casada and Cothren were accused of setting up a secret company called Phoenix Solutions that tapped into the state’s postage and printing program that provides House members $3,000 a year for constituent mailers. Casada and former Rep. Robin Smith, who pleaded guilty and testified against the pair, steered lawmakers’ business to Phoenix Solutions, which was secretly run by Cothren with the front name of “Matthew Phoenix.”
https://tennesseelookout.com/2025/05/16/former-tennessee-house-speaker-glen-casada-ex-aide-guilty-in-federal-corruption-case/
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