Nashville, TN (WOKI) A verdict has been reached in the corruption trial against former Tennessee Speaker of the House Glen Casada and his former chief of staff, Cade Cothren.
The jury Friday morning finding Cothren guilty on all charges which include federal counts of conspiracy, public corruption by fraud, bribery and name concealment, and money laundering. Casada was found guilty on most charges, excluding two fraud charges.
“Tennesseans have a right to expect honest services from their elected leaders and their staffs,” said Robert E. McGuire, Acting United States Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee. “Our office will continue to pursue justice on behalf of our community in cases involving public corruption and fraud committed by elected officials or their staffs. We believe that Tennesseans deserve no less.”
“Elected officials and their staff members have a duty to act honestly and ethically when serving the public,” said Joseph E. Carrico of the FBI Nashville Field Office. “Using public office for personal gain is a crime and the FBI is committed to holding those who abuse power accountable and protecting public resources.”
According to the government’s case, in 2020 more than $51,000 in state constituent mail payments were funneled to Cothren through his company, Phoenix Solutions, with Casada and Cothren getting more than $35,000 in bribes and kickbacks.
A grand jury indicted the pair in August of 2022.
