The former Tennessee Senator of the Center’s House Glen Casada walks to the Federal Courthouse Fred D. Thompson on April 22, accompanied by his wife and lawyer Edjarbro, to begin a trial on corruption charges. (Photo: John Partipilo)

Current and former lawmakers were able to testify at the corruption trial of former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada, who refused a plea agreement in the case, in the corruption trial of former Chief Cade Koren of Cade Koren, revealed at the start of the trial on Tuesday.

Crossville’s current House Speaker Cameron Sexton, along with Goodlettville House Republican Whip Johnny Garrett, is at the top of the list of potential witnesses.

Sexton confirmed early in the investigation that he was working with prosecutors at the U.S. Lawyer’s Office. In March, the defense team withheld information on the identities of those who the government secretly gathered information, claiming that Sexton was wearing a wire to record a conversation between him, Casada and Koren.

Other House Republicans on the list of witnesses that could be called are Justin Lafferty of Knoxville, Jay Reedy of Erin, Jason Zachary of Knoxville, Dennis Zachary of LaFolette, Scott Sepicky of Cureoka, Tim Rudd, Charlie Baum of Mulfreillo, and Charlie Baum of East Ridge.

Casada and Koslen were charged in August 2022 with 20 count conspiracy, fraud, money laundering, bribery and kickback after concentrating contracts for House members’ political consulting services, founded in a company called Phoenix Solutions.

Former Chattanooga MP Robin Smith is expected to testify after his home and office was attacked by the FBI in 2021 and along with Casada and other lawmakers, he pleaded guilty to accusations in the case and agreed to work with federal prosecutors.

Casada declined plea bargain

Although most of Tuesday was devoted to choosing a ju judge, US District Court judge Eli Richardson asked Casada about his understanding of plea agreements from the US lawyers’ office.

“Did (Casada’s lawyer) tell them they received an offer of plea from the government?” Richardson asked Casada.

The former House Speaker said he was aware of the offer to trade and refused to accept it. No similar plea was mentioned.

Prosecutors say Casada and former Rep. Smith knew that Koren ran the company under the alias “Matthew Phoenix,” but withheld that information from the state legislators and in return for kickbacks they directed the Bogas company to provide email services directly.

Cothren resigned from Casada’s office after 2019 media coverage of his involvement in a racist and sexist text messaging scandal. Casada later resigned as Speaker of the House – his eight months in his position marked the shortest tenure for the home Tennessee Senator after a “unconfident” vote from members of the House Republican Caucus.

Richardson revealed a set of both lawyers, which envelops Casada’s speech and stems from the scandal that led to his resignation along with a grievance about his control.

“The witnesses wouldn’t have been in business,” said Taylor Phillips, a US lawyer for the Central District of Tennessee.

“What (Rep.) cared about was that it was Cade Koren who was the subject of this huge scandal,” Phillips said.

Cothren’s lawyer Cynthia Sherwood said Casada and Smith are the driving force behind the company’s ability to secure business from elected officials.

“None of these witnesses were doing business with Phoenix Solutions,” Sherwood said. “They hired Robin Smith and they hired Glenn Casada because they were friends.”

The opening discussion of the case is expected to begin on Wednesday after the ju-degree selection is finished.