President Donald Trump has granted pardons to former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and his ex-chief of staff, Cade Cothren, following their federal corruption convictions and sentencing, Casada confirmed on Thursday.
The former speaker was sentenced in September to 36 months in federal prison after being found guilty of wire fraud, conspiracy to commit money laundering, and using fake names to carry out a fraud and money laundering scheme. Cothren was sentenced to nearly three years behind bars.
“Yes the president called me today and granted me a full pardon. I am grateful of his trust and his full confidence in my innocence through this whole ordeal,” Casada told WSMV4. “I’m a private citizen and looking forward to getting back to being with my family and friends. Literally hundreds of people have been praying for this and I’m thankful to the president and to the Lord for answering those prayers.”
A White House official, speaking on background, also told the outlet, “President Trump has approved pardons for former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and his former chief of staff Cade Cothren. The Biden Department of Justice significantly over prosecuted these individuals for a minor issue involving constituent mailers, which were billed at competitive prices, never received a complaint from legislators, and resulted in a net profit loss of less than $5,000. The Biden DOJ responded with an armed raid, perp walk, and suggested sentences exceeding 10 years, penalties normally reserved for multimillion dollar fraudsters.”
Casada and Cothren were indicted in 2022. Federal prosecutors said more than $51,000 in state constituent mail payments were routed to Cothren through a company called Phoenix Solutions. Casada and Cothren received more than $35,000 in bribes and kickbacks, according to the case.
The pardons come one day after another co-defendant in the scheme, former state Rep. Robin Smith, publicly requested a presidential pardon. Smith accepted a plea deal for her involvement. It is not yet known whether Smith will receive a pardon.
President Trump has granted clemency in several high-profile cases, as noted by the Associated Press. He previously wiped the slate clean for former Illinois governor Rod Blagojevich, a Democrat, and former Connecticut governor John Rowland, a Republican, whose once-rising political career collapsed after a corruption case that led to two terms in federal prison.
He also issued a pardon to former New York Congressman Michael Grimm, a Republican who stepped down from office following his conviction for tax fraud. President Trump also pardoned reality television personalities Todd and Julie Chrisley, who were found guilty of defrauding banks and avoiding taxes.
