Cothren Joins Former Speaker Casada In Seeking Corruption Case Dismissal

Photo: Cade Cothren, former chief of staff to ex-House Speaker Glen Casada, leaving the federal courthouse in Nashville following his arraignment on conspiracy charges. Photo Credit: John Partipilo

By Sam Stockard [Tennessee Lookout -CC BY-NC-ND 4.0] –

Joining co-defendant Glen Casada, former House speaker chief of staff Cade Cothren filed for dismissal of corruption charges against him this week, claiming the feds’ case is largely trumped up.

Cothren is accused of giving former House Speaker Casada – who holds the record for shortest tenure in history at seven months – kickbacks along with former Rep. Robin Smith in return for helping his secretive vendor, Phoenix Solutions, get nearly $52,000 in business from House Republicans for their state-funded constituent mailers.

Cothren was relieved of his duties as chief of staff in the midst of a racist and sexist texting scandal that helped lead to Casada’s demise, along with complaints about heavy-handed leadership, including “kill bill” lists.

Smith, who pleaded guilty last year and started working with the feds in the case, and Casada are said to have kept the identity of Phoenix Solution’s top man, Cothren, on the down low because, otherwise, he wouldn’t have gotten a bit of work. Coming off a fat state salary, he needed the money – and fast.

In his latest filing, though, Cothren claims his customers got exactly what they bargained for, thus there was no wrongdoing. His attorneys also say he didn’t violate any federal funding provisions.

It might be harder to prove he didn’t sign a tax form with the signature “Matthew Phoenix,” purported owner of Phoenix Solutions.

Casada filed a similar motion to dismiss before Cothren as they try to wriggle off the hook before an October trial.

Meanwhile, Cothren claims that after he left his chief of staff post, he talked constantly with Cameron Sexton, now the House speaker, and helped in his bid for the post, communicating regularly. He says phone and encrypted communication records will prove they were tight, and he expects to bring those to court.

Sexton, who is cooperating with the feds in the case, could be a little uncomfortable, considering Cothren’s legal team is likely to skewer him if he takes the stand. Cothren is clearly peeved at the entire House Republican leadership, and he won’t be holding back – if it ever goes to trial.

About the Author: Sam Stockard is a veteran Tennessee reporter and editor, having written for the Daily News Journal in Murfreesboro, where he served as lead editor when the paper won an award for being the state’s best Sunday newspaper two years in a row. He has led the Capitol Hill bureau for The Daily Memphian. His awards include Best Single Editorial from the Tennessee Press Association. Follow Stockard on Twitter @StockardSam