NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — A jury of six men and six women found former House Speaker Glen Casada guilty for his involvement in what was a trial on public corruption charges against him. He was found guilty on 17 of 19 counts.
The jury found his aide Cade Cothren guilty on all charges for his stake in the trial.
Casada and his wife were both visibly emotional as the verdict was handed down. Cothren stayed composed as his verdict was read.
Former House Speaker Casada, 65, and his aide Cothren, 38, were charged in a multi-count indictment that accuses them of engaging in a bribery and kickback scheme in conjunction with a deal to provide state-funded constituent mailing services named Phoenix Solutions for members of the House Republican Caucus.
Prosecutors say the two men conspired together in a "scheme involving fraud, bribery, theft, and money laundering," in which they "leveraged elected office for private profit, while using lies and concealment as means to accomplish their criminal goals."
The beginnings
The whole saga began when NewsChannel 5 Investigates revealed racist and sexist text messages between Casada and Cothren. That scandal forced Casada out as Tennessee House Speaker and their tarnished reputation is why the trio used the fake name Matthew Phoenix when they created Phoenix Solutions, all in an attempt to obtain state mail contracts.
Read more: TN House Speaker's chief of staff admits past drug use, confirms text messages
'There will be an appeal'
Attorneys for both defendants vowed to appeal the ruling.
"We are disappointed in the verdict, and there will be an appeal. We look forward to continuing the process," said Jonathan Farmer, an attorney for Glen Casada.
"We thank the jury for their time and we look forward to filing our post-trial motions and our appeal," said Cynthia Sherwood, an attorney for Cade Cothren.
Prosecutors celebrated the development, shortly after the verdict was shared.
"Elected leaders and their staff should perform honest services for the citizens that they serve," said Acting U.S. Attorney Rob McGuire. "We feel vindicated today by the jury’s verdict."
It brings to a close four years of investigating and three years of preparing for trial. But not all of the public's questions were answered with Friday's verdict. The prosecution had little to say about why current House Speaker Cameron Sexton was anticipated to testify for the federal government, but it wasn't called.
"We put on the witnesses and the evidence that we thought was necessary to prove our case beyond a reasonable doubt," said McGuire.
Read more: Timeline of events leading up to Rep. Glen Casada's arrest
What happens to Robin Smith?
NewsChannel 5 also asked the Department of Justice about the fate of Rep. Robin Smith, who was the third member of the conspiracy and took a plea deal for a reduced sentence.
"I think what is most important is that the jury, by her verdict, found her to be a credible witness. They obviously listened very intently to her testimony and what she described is what the jury found the defendants guilty of doing, which is defrauding the people of Tennessee," said McGuire.
Judge Eli Richardson will ultimately determine sentencing for all three — Smith, Casada and Cothren.
What happens to Casada and Cothren?
Casada and Cothren were allowed to be released back to their families under pre-trial conditions until they're sentenced in September 2025. Some of the more significant charges carry a maximum sentence of 20 years. Judge Richardson could decide to make those concurrent or consecutive charges. What's the difference? They could spend a few years behind bars or up to decades.
Many have wondered if Casada and Cothren may appeal to President Donald Trump for a pardon. It could be a possibility. A few months ago, former Tennessee State Senator Brian Kelsey was pardoned by the president, when he was early into a prison sentence for an illegal campaign finance scheme.
Tennessee's Capitol Hill responds
Leaders of Tennessee's House Republican Caucus appeared to almost celebrate the guilty verdicts. A statement reads:
Today’s verdict reaffirms the principle that public office is a sacred trust, not a license for personal gain or abuse of power. The House Republican Caucus deeply appreciates the leadership of House Speaker Cameron Sexton, who was instrumental in uncovering illegal activity by two former members and providing critical facts to federal authorities. His commitment to integrity in state government reflects the standards to which all public officials should be held. We also commend the investigators, prosecutors and jurors whose diligent efforts ensured that those who betrayed the public’s trust were brought to justice.
Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton also weighed in:
I want to thank the FBI, the Department of Justice, and the Trump administration for their decisive action in pursuing justice in this case. As we close this chapter, I will remain committed to working with state and federal authorities to fight against corruption and fraud whenever it is uncovered.
Prior to the verdicts, Democrats held a news conference in front of the courthouse, weighing in on the federal corruption trial.
“Nobody thinks this trial is delivering justice. Our lawmakers are out of control. Authoritarianism breeds corruption. They go hand in hand. Throughout this trial, we heard that lawmakers feel entitled to spend public money to enrich themselves in their power struggles. We heard that votes can be bought and sold. Tennesseans saw how the game is played, and Republicans are running our state like a cartel.
Do you have more information about this story? You can email Chris.Davis@NewsChannel5.com.
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