NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) — Fiery opening statements came across to the jury on Thursday in the public corruption trial for former House Speaker Glen Casada and his aide Cade Cothren.
"This is a case about powerful politicians and how they used their influence to line their pockets,” said federal prosecutor Taylor Phillips, the lead federal prosecutor began his opening statement.
He then elaborated how Casada and Cothren “used kickbacks, pass through companies and fake identities with an elaborate made up story to enact this scheme."
Phillips told the jury how Cothren used a fake name — Matthew Phoenix — and a fake company — Phoenix Solutions — for mail services for Tennessee lawmakers and then provided kickbacks to Casada and others.
Joy Longnecker, an attorney for Cade Cothren didn’t dispute that Cothren used a fake name — but argued in her opening statement that he needed the fake name due to all the media coverage of a texting scandal first unearthed by NewsChannel 5 Investigates.
"Cade may be a sinner, but he’s not a criminal," Longnecker said.
Ed Yarbrough — an attorney for Glen Casada — argued nothing illegal happened, and this investigation was all orchestrated by current House Speaker Cameron Sexton because he and Casada were political enemies.
“This is a political battle between rivals and this is the final chapter," Yarbrough said.
Rep. Patsy Hazelwood
The first witness was former House Rep. Patsy Hazelwood (R-Signal Mountain), who claims she unknowingly used Phoenix Solutions for her mailer.
She testified she never would have knowingly worked with Cothren. “He was an embarrassment to the state of Tennessee. I had no interest in working with him in any fashion," she said.
When Cade Cothren's attorneys had a chance to re-direct Hazelwood, they tried to point out that she supported Secretary of State Tre Hargett's re-election after his 2022 DUI. However, Hazelwood left the legislature before Hargett was re-elected.
Defense attorneys did successfully point out that Hazelwood didn't question former Rep. Robin Smith about what sub-contractors she was using for her mailer. Smith initially approached Hazelwood about making a mailer, and is now helping the prosecution in this case.
Rep. Esther Helton-Haynes
Rep. Esther Helton-Haynes (R-Signal Mountain) was the next to testify. Questions from the prosecution and defense mirrored many that Rep. Hazelwood answered. She also shared she wouldn't have hired Phoenix Solutions if she knew Cothren and Casada were involved. "If they have a bad reputation, it reflects poorly on me," Helton-Haynes stated in court.
Helton-Haynes also shared that, when Phoenix Solutions did a campaign mailer for her, she heard an elaborate false back story on who Matthew Phoenix was.
Rep. Jay Reedy
State Rep. Jay Reedy (R-Houston County) was the federal government's final witness of the day. He echoed concerns about having Phoenix Solutions work on his constituent mailers, given Casada and Cothren's unsavory reputation. He called Casada using a fake name a "very corrupt way of doing business."
Reedy added, "It matters who I become friends with," said Reedy.
He also described Cothren as having an "abrasive personality."
Defense Attorney Jonathan Farmer, who represents Casada, tripped up Reedy a bit when he pointed out that Reedy still wrote then-Rep. Glen Casada a check for his campaign after the scandal.
Reedy says he didn't recall writing the check but that the evidence refreshed his memory.
What comes next?
It appears this case is coming down to this: Is what Casada and Cothren did illegal?
The prosecution said "yes" that they used their position and influence to obtain state funds for contracts.
The defense parties say "no" that this is just how the legislature runs.
House Speaker Cameron Sexton is expected to testify Friday. He may be the highest profile individual to testify in this trial.
Do you have more information about this story? You can email newsroom@newschannel5.com.
My friend and colleague Carrie Sharp had a lot of fun last week, on an adventure to a country more than three thousand miles away! She’s back now – sharing her Adventures in Iceland through stories, and incredible images of this remarkably beautiful and unique island nation (kudos to Chief Photographer Catherine Steward)! But did you know Nashville has something very important in common with Iceland? Tourism! Here, Carrie explains how a volcanic eruption decades ago helped save the country’s economy from collapse!
-Rhori Johnston
