Attorneys for former Tennessee House Speaker and top aide say the pair did nothing illegal

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – The proceedings of former Tennessee House talker and his onetime main of staff connected bribery, kickback and wealth laundering charges began connected Thursday with defence attorneys arguing that the brace did thing illegal.

The lawsuit accuses erstwhile Republican Rep. Glen Casada and his erstwhile adjutant Cade Cothren of taking taxpayer money to nutrient governmental mailings portion hiding Cothren's involvement aft the 2 had been pressured retired of their enactment roles pursuing a political scandal.

The charging documents accidental Cothren, nether the fake sanction Matthew Phoenix, launched Phoenix Solutions to connection message and consulting services to lawmakers. Cothren registered the institution successful New Mexico due to the fact that the authorities allows anonymous registration of LLCs, and rebuffed requests for in-person meetings. Both Casada and erstwhile authorities Rep. Robin Smith, who took a plea woody successful the scheme, promoted the steadfast and its fake owner.

In opening statements successful national tribunal successful Nashville connected Thursday, Cothren lawyer Joy Longnecker did not quality that helium utilized the fake sanction to tribunal business, WTVF-TV reported. But she said that was indispensable due to the fact that of each the antagonistic publicity surrounding him.

“Cade whitethorn beryllium a sinner, but he’s not a criminal,” Longnecker said.

Ed Yarbrough, representing Casada, portrayed the probe arsenic politically motivated and orchestrated by existent House Speaker Cameron Sexton.

“This is simply a governmental conflict betwixt rivals,” Yarbrough said.

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