Image Credit: John Partipilo
by Sam Stockard [The Tennessee Lookout -CC BY-NC-ND 4.0] –
Tennessee’s executive director of the Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance confirmed he is being subpoenaed by the attorney for a former House speaker chief of staff, likely in connection with a federal trial.
Ethics and election finance chief Bill Young declined to speak to a private investigator who went to his home Aug. 31 and tried to question him for Cynthia Sherwood, the attorney for Cade Cothren, who faces trial Nov. 6 on federal bribery and kickback charges.
The private investigator reportedly went to the homes of several lawmakers, as well.
Young told the Tennessee Lookout Wednesday that his attorney notified him he is being subpoenaed by Sherwood, possibly in connection with advice he gave a state House member as executive director of the Bureau of Ethics and Campaign Finance. He wasn’t certain about the topic.
Young said the subpoena likely involves the federal criminal case and is not connected with the subpoena the Registry board served on Cothren as it sought information about the Faith Freedom Family Fund, a political action committee Cothren allegedly operated to run attack ads against Republican Rep. Rick Tilliass in his race against state Rep. Todd Warner, a Chapel Hill Republican.
The Registry board voted Tuesday to notify the state Board of Professional Responsibility that a private investigator tried to question Young at his home on behalf of Sherwood, who is representing Cothren in the criminal and civil matters.
It is unethical for an attorney to communicate with a party known to be represented by counsel.
