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NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WKRN) — A former speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives has requested a new trial after a jury found him and his former aide guilty for their connection to a scheme to defraud the state.
On May 16, 2025, a 12-person jury found former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada guilty on 17 of 19 counts. Meanwhile, Cothren was found guilty on all counts. Both men were accused of pushing the state to use a company started by Cothren.
According to the U.S. Department of Justice, the scheme began in 2019 when Casada and Cothren deceived their former colleagues and officials at the State of Tennessee in an effort to obtain state funds for Phoenix Solutions, Cothren’s political consulting business.
A four-week trial and days of deliberations resulted in a guilty verdict for Casada. He was released on his own recognizance until sentencing, which is scheduled for Sept. 12. However, a court filing states the former speaker and his former chief of staff are now seeking a new trial on the grounds that the jury's verdict was "against the manifest weight of the evidence."
Attorneys argue that the government failed to show proof beyond a reasonable doubt as it relates to the second count of the indictment, which was obtaining property by fraud.
In addition, the filing also states that Casada is entitled to a new trial because the government also failed to prove that he was paid money in exchange for an official act instead of a legitimate business relationship.
"Despite the government's witnesses' consistent use of legal buzzwords to try to carry them to a conviction, the proof also did not establish that Casada engaged in a scheme of official acts to get Phoenix Solutions' invoices approved in exchange for payment," the filing reads, in part.
Though jurors found Casada guilty of use of money laundering, lawyers argue that there is simply no evidence that suggests the former speaker "played any role whatsoever in this conduct."
The filing adds that Phoenix Solutions' bank accounts were controlled by Cothern, whereas Casada's role was limited to "primarily to recruiting business." The former speaker has submitted a motion for a new trial based on some of the arguments listed above.
As of publication, the court has not submitted a ruling on the motion.
News Source : https://www.wkrn.com/news/tennessee-news/former-tennessee-house-speaker-requests-new-trial-after-guilty-verdict/
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