US EditionJury Convicts Ex-Tennessee House Speaker and His Aide in Legislative Mail Scheme
- A federal jury convicted former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and his chief of staff Cade Cothren in May 2025 for public corruption related to taxpayer-funded mail services.
- The convictions stem from a 2022 indictment accusing Casada and Cothren of a bribery and kickback scheme involving Phoenix Solutions, a firm servicing House Republicans' mailings.
- The trial revealed that the scheme operated secretly to conceal Phoenix Solutions’ involvement from leadership and the public, even as Casada and Cothren resigned amid related scandals in 2019.
- Casada was found guilty on 17 of 19 counts, Cothren on all 19, and evidence included Ramos' plea deal and a $52,000 state payment connected to the mailer program in 2020.
- The convictions imply ongoing misuse of public funds for private benefit and underscore consequences following the no-confidence vote that ended Casada’s speakership and Cothren’s tenure.
57 Articles
57 Articles
The Center Square
Casada, Cothren convicted on long list of charges related to kickback scheme
(The Center Square) – Former Republican Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and his chief of staff, Cade Cothren, face up to 20 years in prison after their conviction on a
Tennessee State House GOP Says Guilty Verdict in Casada Fraud Trial Demonstrates 'Commitment to Integrity' by Speaker Cameron Sexton - Tennessee Star
The Tennessee House Republican Caucus in the General Assembly released a statement which said the Friday guilty verdict handed to former House Speaker Glen Casada, and his former aide Cade Cothren, "reaffirms the principle that public office is a sacred trust, not a license for personal gain or abuse of power." Casada and Cothren were convicted on Friday on 17 counts in the trial over their role in the Phoenix Solutions business which prosecutor…
Associated Press News
Jury convicts ex-Tennessee House speaker and his aide in legislative mail scheme
A federal jury has convicted the former Tennessee House speaker and his onetime top aide of numerous charge in a secretive scheme to land taxpayer-funded mail business from state lawmakers after the pair fell from power due to scandals.
Former Tennessee House speaker, chief of staff found guilty in fraud trial
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A former speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives and his former top aide have been convicted of defrauding the state. After a three-week trial and four days of deliberations, the 12-person jury found former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada, 64, and his former top aide, Cade Cothren, 38, guilty of multiple charges related to a money-making scheme involving political mailers. The two were accused of pushing t…
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