Sat Apr 26 03:40:00 UTC 2025: **Former Tennessee House Speaker and Chief of Staff Go on Trial for Corruption**
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — The trial of former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and his former chief of staff, Cade Cothren, began Thursday, April 22, 2025, in Nashville federal court. Both men face charges of bribery, kickback, and money laundering.
Prosecutors allege that Casada and Cothren used taxpayer money to fund political mailings through a shell company, Phoenix Solutions, secretly controlled by Cothren under the alias “Matthew Phoenix.” The company was registered in New Mexico to conceal Cothren’s identity, avoiding in-person meetings and exploiting the state’s anonymous LLC registration laws. Both Casada and former state Rep. Robin Smith (who has already pleaded guilty in the case) promoted Phoenix Solutions.
Defense attorneys presented contrasting narratives. Cothren’s attorney, Joy Longnecker, admitted Cothren used a false name but argued this was a reaction to the negative publicity surrounding him, not a criminal act. She stated, “Cade may be a sinner, but he’s not a criminal.” Casada’s attorney, Ed Yarbrough, claimed the investigation was politically motivated, a power struggle orchestrated by current House Speaker Cameron Sexton. He characterized the case as “a political battle between rivals.” The trial is expected to continue.
First Piper 