TBA Law Blog


Posted by: Azya Thornton on Nov 7, 2025

Former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and his former chief of staff, Cade Cothren, reportedly received calls from President Donald Trump on Thursday offering them full pardons for their convictions, according to the Nashville Post. No official paperwork has appeared on the U.S. Department of Justice Office of the Pardon Attorney's website. The two were found guilty in May of honest services wire fraud, conspiracy, bribery, theft and money laundering in a mailer fraud scheme. In September, Cothren was sentenced to two and a half years in prison, while Casada received a three-year federal prison sentence. Legal counsel for both men had requested a mistrial, which was denied, and were pursuing appeals of their convictions. Former Rep. Robin Smith, R-Hixson, who was also involved in the scheme, is seeking a pardon from the president as well.