October 3 Trial Date Set For Former Speaker Glen Casada And Aide Cade Cothren

Photo Credit: Glen Casada / Facebook

The Tennessee Conservative Staff –

A trial date has been set for October 3 in the bribery and kickback scheme involving former House Speaker Glen Casada and his aide Cade Cothren.

Former State Representative Robin Smith is set to be a key witness in the trial, which is expected to last two or three weeks.

Smith resigned after being charged with federal wire fraud as a result of her role in the scheme. She pled guilty, but that sentencing has been postponed until the Casada/Cothren trial is over so Smith can testify.

According to authorities, Cothren created a fake persona – Matthew Phoenix – and a fake company, Phoenix Solutions, LLC.

The company was a fake political vendor that took approximately $52,000 work of taxpayer money and another $200,000 from legislators under the guise of participating in the state’s constituent mail program. Revenue from the New Mexico-based company was shared with Casada and Smith.

Both Casada and Cothren pleaded not guilty to the charges. The trial was delayed for an entire year before its new scheduled date.