The recent decision by President Donald Trump to grant pardons to former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and his former chief of staff, Cade Cothren, has raised eyebrows and drawn sharp criticism. These two Republicans had just been sentenced to federal prison for their involvement in a corruption scandal.
Knewz.com has reported that both individuals were convicted in relation to a public corruption scandal that revolved around a fake consulting firm created to funnel taxpayer money.
Continuing a Trend of Pardons for Republican Allies
The decisions regarding Casada and Cothren are just the latest in a series of trump pardons benefitting Republicans during his current term in office.
Other Republican figures who have received pardons include former Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, ex-Connecticut Governor John Rowland, former Congressman Michael Grimm, and George Santos, whose prison time was recently shortened.
Casada received a three-year prison sentence in September, while Cothren was sentenced to two and a half years.
According to prosecutors, Cothren established Phoenix Solutions with support from Casada, leaving an impression that it was operated by “Matthew Phoenix,” a fictional persona.
In a legislative mailer initiative, Casada and Smith’s entities garnered about $52,000 in 2020, which further underlined their suspicious dealings.
White House Responds, Cites Excessive Prosecution
A representative from the White House stated that the Justice Department under President Joe Biden massively overreached in prosecuting the cases against Casada and Cothren, labeling it as a “minor issue involving constituent mailers.”
Reportedly, these issues resulted in a minor financial loss of less than $5,000, with no complaints made from other legislators regarding their actions.
This spokesperson also criticized the aggressive tactics employed, including raids and severe proposed penalties, which they argued were only meant for larger-scale fraud cases.
Interestingly enough, the initial investigations and FBI raids on both Casada’s and Cothren’s residences were conducted while Trump was still in office, highlighting the irony of the situation.
Legal Issues Rooted in Past Controversies
It’s worth noting that both men’s legal woes began well before the pardons. Casada stepped down as speaker back in 2019 following a no-confidence vote from Republicans, amidst a flurry of scandals involving inappropriate messages exchanged between him and Cothren about women.
Cothren also faced scrutiny for sending offensive texts and using drugs in a legislative office.
Prosecutors later revealed that Casada’s girlfriend posed as an associate of the fictitious Matthew Phoenix, further tying them to the fraudulent scheme.
Public Outcry Following Trump’s Pardons
After the pardons, Casada expressed his gratitude, stating, “I’m just thankful to the president for believing in my innocence. Now I can focus on moving forward with my life!”
However, a multitude of critics emerged, voicing their displeasure with these pardons.
Tennessee Democratic Rep. Gloria Johnson remarked on social media vibes, pointing out that while Democrats face restrictions, Republicans seem to escape accountability despite their misdeeds.
Editorial voices like Ron Filipkowski from MeidasTouch pointed out how Trump appears to place every GOP politician above the law, advocating for a constitutional change to restrict presidential pardoning abilities.
Independent investigative journalist Marcy Wheeler added her voice against these pardons on social media, indicating that Trump’s actions showcase the overwhelming corruption within the GOP, while of course progressives from The Tennessee Holler echoed this sentiment, arguing that show how laws appear to apply differently depending on party affiliation.
