In Nashville, Tennessee, a high-stakes federal trial is set to unravel amid the intrigue of political machinations, with former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and his ex-chief of staff, Cade Cothren, standing trial. The courtroom proceedings will see a parade of current and former lawmakers and staffers taking the stand—some in support of the prosecution, others for the defense. The trial jury was being selected as of Tuesday, and the hearings are anticipated to stretch over several weeks.
The central allegations concern the establishment of a political mailing company by the defendants, which was covertly managed by Cothren using taxpayer funds, unbeknownst to the lawmakers who contracted with it. It is alleged that Casada and Cothren concealed Cothren’s involvement to secure contracts with the house Republicans after being compelled to relinquish their leadership roles amidst a prior scandal. Prosecutors argue that Cothren masterminded an alias, Matthew Phoenix, to lead the enterprise known as Phoenix Solutions.
The indictment against the duo encompasses 20 counts, covering charges such as bribery, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and kickbacks. If found guilty, each man could face up to two decades behind bars. This trial marks the culmination of a lengthy legal process, initiated three years ago with their charges and nearly six years since their resignations.
Among the roughly 15 witnesses federal prosecutors intend to call is current House Speaker Cameron Sexton. He succeeded Casada and actively aided federal investigators in piecing together the case. Former Republican Representative Robin Smith, who has entered a plea deal related to the misconduct, is likewise slated to testify. Reports indicate that some legislators have instead been subpoenaed by the defense.
The defense attorneys for Casada and Cothren maintain that the legislative contracts were fulfilled as promised, thus obfuscating the firm’s true ownership does not constitute a criminal act. Glen Casada, hailing from Williamson County, ascended to the position of House speaker in 2019, with Cothren as his chief aide. Both were engulfed in controversy over a harrowing school voucher voting incident, which left a cloud of speculation hanging over their dealings.
Casada’s resignation came in August 2019 after a no-confidence motion thrust him out of command post-series of controversies, one of which involved explicit texts exchanged with Cothren. The fallout also saw Cothren depart his role amid revelations of racist messages and drug use on the premises of a legislative office. A year and a half later, in January 2021, FBI operatives executed searches on premises linked to Casada, Cothren, and Smith.
Eventually, Casada and Cothren were indicted in August 2022, trailing Smith’s guilty plea earlier in March. Court documents delineate Cothren’s establishment of Phoenix Solutions with the express support and knowledge of Casada and Smith to provide consultancy and mailing services. By engaging in an anonymous company registration in New Mexico, Cothren sidestepped face-to-face meetings with lawmakers, prosecutors allege.
The fictitious Matthew Phoenix was presented as the company head, thereby facilitating Phoenix Solutions alongside Casada’s and Smith’s entities in securing about $52,000 in public funds for legislators’ mailing programs in 2020. Witness Robin Smith, having admitted to federal wire fraud in connection with the scheme, is anticipated to provide critical testimony on her illicit collaboration with the defendants, with her sentencing deferred until after the trial.
Smith reportedly informed various Republican legislators that Matthew Phoenix—a guise for Cothren—moved his purported business back to New Mexico, disillusioned with Washington, D.C. life. Prosecutors claim Smith was privy to Casada’s girlfriend impersonating another associate, Candice, in dealings. The indictment maintains Cothren dispensed over $35,000 in illicit payments to Casada and Smith, an allegation underscored by text exchanges laying out his alias’s usage.
House Speaker Cameron Sexton’s involvement extends beyond the investigatory support role, as he is expected to testify on financial procedures surrounding legislative communication funds. Despite the controversy, Cothren’s defense seeks to challenge the narrative that the House shunned collaboration due to his past controversies, suggesting his direct assistance to Sexton’s political ambitions post-resignation.