Former lawmaker testifies Cothren, Casada reputations were 'radioactive' following scandal
The federal corruption case of a former Tennessee House speaker and his one-time top aide continued into its fifth day, beset by repeated defense objections and lengthy private conferences between attorneys at the judge.
The trial inched forward on April 28 with the appearance of former Rep. Robin Smith, R-Hixson, who resigned from the General Assembly in 2022 before quickly striking a plea deal with prosecutors.
Smith admitted to conspiring with former House Speaker Glen Casada, R-Franklin, and his former chief of staff Cade Cothren in launching a political consulting firm under false pretenses to take advantage of a state-funded account lawmakers could use to pay for constituent communications and mailers.
Smith called it "low-hanging" fruit for the trio, who were eager to get the company off of the ground and turn a profit at the end of 2019.
Casada had stepped down from the speakership under a cloud of scandal related to Cothren, who quit his high-paying legislative job in the wake of a racist and sexist texting scandal.
Smith told the jury she was tapped to "escalate the lies and conceal their identities" when the trio agreed to seek taxpayer-funded legislative business as Phoenix Solutions, a company Cothren developed while using the alias Matthew Phoenix.
Smith testified she had to conceal Cothren's identity and shield Casada's involvment with Phoenix Solutions due to the recent scandal.
"It was understood I was the only one without a radioactive halo around me from a scandal at the time," Smith said.
Prosecutors argue Cothren, Casada and Smith conspired to take advantage of a $3,000 allowance given to lawmakers to mail legislative materials after Casada left his post as House speaker. Both Casada and Smith already had their own political consulting firms, which did similar work, but the trio still agreed to team up and split the nearly $51,947 Phoenix Solutions billed the legislature through 2020.
The defense has argued the case is political retribution from current House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, and the political consulting firm was nothing more than 'business as usual on the hill.'
Sexton has previously said he cooperated with authorities in the case. He could be called as a witness in the trial.
So far, state Rep. Jay Reedy, R-Erin, has testified, along with a former GOP caucus aide and the longtime director of the Office of Legislative Affairs, which acts as the human resources and financial office of the legislature.
Connie Ridley, the former OLA director, revealed in the first week of trial that she grew suspicious of Phoenix Solutions after it sent in early invoices and failed to submit timely paperwork to receive payment. Smith also pressed Ridley behind the scenes on the payment issue, which Ridley said she found unusual.
Matthew Phoenix, who prosecutors say was really Cothren, later submitted a signed W-9 form.
Ridley testified she would not have approved Phoenix as a vendor if she knew of Cothren's involvement, questioning his judgment due to the scandal that led to resignation. Defense lawyers sought to lay the foundation that Ridley didn't actually have any power to block Phoenix from operating even if Cothren was transparent about his involvement.
Ridley also testified she later learned of a Department of Justice investigation but was advised to continue processing payments for Phoenix Solutions.
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Casada trial: Smith testifies to 'radioactive' reputations of Casada
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