SPEAKER CASADA, A TIMELINE: 2012-2019
Timeline ofĀ Some of TennesseeĀ Speaker ofĀ TheĀ HouseĀ of Representatives GlenĀ CasadaāsĀ ActionsĀ and Statements
FROM 2012-2019
Compiled by Tina Cahalan Jones
Ā
2003Ā
ā¢Ā Casada elected to TN House of Representative
2009
2012
2013
ā¢Ā Jeremy Durham involved inĀ prescription drug fraud probeĀ in Williamson Co;Ā Glenn FunkĀ involved as defense counsel
ā¢Ā Lawmakers wereĀ using $3k donationsĀ from the Standard PAC to pay their $3k dues to the Standard
2014
ā¢Ā February 2014,Ā Casada backed legislation cutting off welfare recipients who test positive for drugs, saying āIf taxpayers are going to support you there are certain criteria you need to adhere to.ā
ā¢Ā FebruaryĀ 2014Ā in a text conversation Casada Chief Of Staff Cade Cothren discussed an internās attractive appearance.Ā āIāmĀ gonnaĀ keep hitting on her just to see what happens.ā
ā¢Ā Grand Jury could not come toĀ a ātrue billā decisionĀ on Durham and did not indict re drug charges
ā¢Ā Dec 2014 Durham narrowly electedĀ House whipĀ – specifically thanked Casada āfor hisĀ vocal supportā:Ā CasadaĀ āThis is a perfect role for Representative Durham“
2015Ā
ā¢Ā Cothren, while working as spokesman for House Republican Caucus – which Casada chaired – sends text saying “black people are idiots.” (CASADA: “If I received that, I don’t remember. IfĀ I had seen it, you would have seen another text coming from me saying ‘this has to stop’ because I know me. I know I would have responded that way if I had seen that text.”)
ā¢Ā Cothren texted: “just did a gram of cocaine in my office.” At 10:38 a.m. on a work day
ā¢Ā April 2015Ā Cothren via text solicited oral sex and nude photos from an intern. He also asked her whether she was wearing underwear and attempted to pivot the topic of a conversation to orgasms.
ā¢Ā Summer 2015 Casada becomes aware of sexual harassment allegations against Durham but takes no action
ā¢Ā December 2015 Casada says he didnāt think the two allegationsĀ [drugs and sexual harassment]Ā āshould or do disqualify him [Durham] from leadershipā; said he considered the drug abuse allegations were ācase closedā; Cade Cothren involved in messaging
2016Ā
ā¢Ā About Jan 5,Ā CasadaĀ and other GOP leadershipĀ stafferĀ told of new sexual harassment allegations against Durham
ā¢Ā Jan 12 Republican Caucus met to decide whether to strip Durham of leadership position – debate got hung up in procedural wrangling and vote to proceed on discussion failed
ā¢Ā Jan 13Ā Republicans introduced a billĀ placing responsibility for legal feesĀ onĀ plaintiffs who lose sexual harassment claims against state and local govāt employees – House Bill 1679
ā¢Ā JanĀ 24Ā Tennessean investigation found Durham acted inappropriately towards 22 womenĀ puts the pressure on Durham to resign
ā¢Ā Jan 24th DurhamĀ resigned from leadership positionĀ as House Majority Whip, Casada stood by him until the very end when he finally joined calls for his resignation saying āit was the mature thing to doā but not calling for ouster from House
ā¢Ā Jan 27 Durham left theĀ Caucus voluntarilyĀ /Ā Casada: āIf the rumors about Durham are true then he needs to focus on his family and receiving the help that he needs.ā – but no call for resignationĀ from the legislature, asĀ Speaker Harwell and other members of the GOP were doing
ā¢Ā Jan 28 Casada: āHave we not all heard rumors? . . .Not one of them had proof or evidence. . . āSays he informed the victims of the legislative sexual harassment policy . . . /Ā confirmed he had heard of rumors for monthsĀ – but evidently did nothing
ā¢Ā MarchĀ 2Ā HB 1679Ā shift inĀ economic burden to some victims of sexual harassmentĀ passed House, Casada and DurhamĀ voted āyesā; effective June 1
ā¢Ā Early April state attorney generalĀ issued a report midway through his investigation about Durham calling him a ācontinuing riskā to women; then speaker Harwell, the Governor, and other GOP leadersĀ again called for his resignationĀ from the legislatureĀ / CasadaĀ did not join them
ā¢Ā April 21 Despite not joining calls for Durhamās resignation, Casada didĀ sign onto a letterĀ calling for the firing of a high-ranking GOP official b/c his wife was working as a consultant challenging GOPĀ incumbents
ā¢Ā May 2016Ā Cothren sent text message to Casada, but he did not respond- āI have many miles and many girls to go before I sleepā
ā¢Ā May 2016Ā despite Durham no longer being in the caucus and being under severe scrutiny Casada attended a fundraiser for him in Franklin
ā¢Ā Casada saidĀ because Durham has denied theĀ allegationsĀ he is willing to support him, āIf there is direct evidence refuting his words to me, that would change everything.ā
ā¢Ā Campaign Finance Allegations. June 2016 Allegations re Durham campaign finance problems come to light –Ā Casada saysĀ āif trueā Durham should resignĀ butĀ distinguishes between them and the sexual harassment allegations saying, āThis [the campaign finance allegations] is empirical, this is measurable, itās is his own words indicting him where the harassment charges were he said this and she said thisāĀ
ā¢Ā Casada admits he didnāt lose faith in Durham until the allegations turned financial:Ā āWhen you invest a lot in somebody you hope against hope that maybe it wasĀ incorrectĀ and I knew it wasnāt. At that point I knew it was over.ā
ā¢Ā His financials showed thatĀ Durham paid MichaelĀ Loftiās consulting firmĀ $51,000 (while he was Andy Holtās Legislative Aide – $9k was later refunded) and paid Andy Holt $500 for āoffice suppliesā
ā¢Ā July 2016Ā House committee re Durhamās sexual harassment – recommended leaving it up to the voters
ā¢Ā July 2016 Attorney General report about Durham – recommended expulsion –Ā Casada: ā[Durham] lied to me”Ā ā continued to prior knowledge of Durhamās behavior, called Durhamās behavior āan isolated incidentā
ā¢Ā July 2016Ā Cothren texted a picture of a female friend pole dancing to Casada. / Casada responded, “Nice pics.” / Cothren: “Hands to yourself :)ā/ Casada: “Can I just touch?” / Cothren: “Lol okay maybe just once.ā/ Casada: “Lol.”
ā¢Ā Late July 2016Ā – Casada tries toĀ tie a voteĀ on expelling Durham to a vote on expelling a Democratic lawmaker who was facing charges for tax evasion
ā¢Ā AugustĀ – Cothren texted Casada about a sexual encounter he had with a woman, āJust soĀ yāallĀ know, I did fāk (woman) in the bathroom at party fowl . . . Will send pictures later,ā /Ā Casada’sĀ responded: āOnly gone for 60 seconds,ā adding, āR u a minute man???;) / Cothren – āYes, I take after you. Like father like son,ā / Casada – āLolol! If Iām happy, then all is good!!!!!āĀ
ā¢Ā Beth HarwellĀ said his political consulting was “in conflict with his service in the legislature.”
ā¢Ā During that year (by September), Cothren promoted to press secretary for the Tennessee House Republican Caucus.
ā¢Ā Sometime in the yearĀ 2016 (as all the above was happening)
ā¢Ā Text exchangeĀ between Casada and Cothren in which Cothren responded with a “black people” meme – Casada did not rebuke him and claims he never received the text
ā¢Ā Cothren made sexual advancesĀ toward a female lobbyist about how he would like to sleep with older women.
Ā
2017
oĀ In the wake of Durham, the House Ethics Committee and other legislators swing quickly into action ā reporting him and investigating
oĀ House GOP Caucus Chair Williams questioned Lovell and told him if the allegations wereĀ trueĀ he should resign, and he does ultimately resign
oĀ By contrast, Majority Leader Casada āchatted with him on the House floor or at a legislative reception that evening. Casada said he did not ask Lovell to resign or even discuss the allegations. Instead they made small talk.ā
ā¢Ā March 2017Ā Casada tried toĀ amend a bill introduced by David ByrdĀ (increasing per diem payment for Reps) in such a way that it would reverse previous policy to allow reimbursement for legislatorsā hotels even if they lived nearby; protestors brought him sleeping bags; some claimed it was because he was going through a divorce and had no place to stay
ā¢Ā Early April 2017Ā ā the Tennessean reported re membership in the Standard Club owned by Josh Smith, re the Standardās PAC being used to fund activities, food,Ā etcĀ for lawmakers including Casada
oĀ Since 2013, lawmakers were paying their $3k membership dues to the Standard after receiving $3k donations from the Standardās PAC [possible impermissible gift]
ā¢Ā May 2017Ā – Casada objected to an honorary resolution for Kay West (music journalist) b/c she once worked as a receptionist at Penthouse – a magazine which he said āhas a tendency to make women, uh, objectsā
ā¢Ā June 2017Ā complaint filed with the Federal Election CommissionĀ targetsĀ Rep. Kelsey but also alleges that Casada āviolated federal campaign finance laws.ā
oĀ Casada: āIt is not uncommon for allies to support each other in their political endeavors.ā He called the claims āabsurd.ā
oĀ Casada said the agents asked him if he knew anything about Durham receiving any favors or money in exchange for sponsoring legislation. āI said I do not know anything about that.ā He was specifically questioned about any āquid pro quo.ā
Ā
2018
ā¢Ā Feb 2018Ā For the first time since he was elected in 2002, Casada faced a challenger in the GOP Primary ā African American woman Rae Shawn Sanchez
oĀ Byrd: “I wish I had a do-over, because I promise you I would have corrected that and that would’ve never happened. . . .IāveĀ lived with that ā¦You donāt know how hard it has been for me.āĀ
ā¢Ā March 5Ā āThe Tennessee House Republican Caucus recalled a resolution ⦠after its resolution Monday after it unwittingly voted to honorā an AfricanĀ American female activist. āThe House, following time-worn tradition, unanimously voted for and co-sponsored the resolution. . . apparently without giving the resolutions a close read. Then Monday, Majority Leader Glen Casada successful motioned to recall the resolution for a revote . . . Repeating claims Casada made [Cade] Cothren [spokesman for the House Republicans] said caucus members objected to language in the resolution supportive of Black Lives Matter . . . āand references to the activistās opposition to the Confederate monument in Memphis. āCothren also repeatedĀ CasadaāsĀ controversial claim that some BLM activists had called for the āmurderā of police officers. āIt had nothing to do with racism whatsoever.āĀ
oĀ Byrd didnāt deny, said he couldnāt recall
oĀ Speaker Harwell and other GOP leaders immediately called for his resignationĀ
oĀ Casada said he would reserve his opinion until he could talk to Byrd personally; he was ādisappointed by the representativeās statementā; āI just want to look him in the eye, man to man.ā
oĀ Intended to āfollow upā with Byrd
oĀ Would not join call for resignation (b/c allegations were related to activities outside of the legislature)
oĀ āTheĀ David Byrd I know is not the David Byrd being described in these allegations. However, they are serious claims and these women have a right to be heard. David Byrd also has that same right for his side of the story.” āVoters will have opportunity to decide.ā
ā¢Ā April 18Ā āĀ CasadaāsĀ primary opponent disqualified at the 11thĀ hour by the state GOP party officials
ā¢Ā June 5Ā ā Casada confirms plans to get actively involved in open GOP primary contests throughout the state ā clearly a ploy to garner votes for the Speaker job
oĀ Using his CAS-PAC he planned to hire 13 staffers and offer assistance to GOP candidates; making contributions budgeted to total $208k
oĀ Another articleĀ stated that he used 12 āteam captainsā ā other legislators ā to help him garner votes for the Speaker job
ā¢Ā JulyĀ āĀ CasadaāsĀ CAS-PAC sent out mailers attacking one Republican candidate in a primary race against another Republican in District 73 (Jackson-Madison Co)
oĀ According to the person benefitting from the attack he did not condone nor solicit the mailers
oĀ The attacked candidateĀ believed he was targeted b/c (if elected) he was likely to vote forĀ CasadaāsĀ opponent in Speaker race
ā¢Ā Sept 2018Ā CAS PAC issued attack ads discrediting Byrdās accusers, including aĀ videoĀ that likenedĀ Byrd to President Donald Trump and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Brett Kavanaugh, saying the men hadĀ been attacked by “unhinged liberals.” Ā MichaelĀ LoftiĀ worked on the ads;Ā LoftiĀ also as part of his job for CAS-PAC ran Facebook page, the Alliance for Tennessee Families, that was working to get Rep. David Byrd re-elected.
oĀ LotfiĀ has pushed back, arguing that the Facebook ad’s reference to the accusersā “lies” was generic language that was also used in other races. “The ad you referenced absolutely makes no mention of the women who accused Byrd, and never intended to.” Women involved in opposing Byrd, however, say that – in the context of his race and given the targeting of his district – the implication was clear.
ā¢Ā November ā Casada and Byrd handily re-elected in home districts
oĀ Several freshman lawmakers who he had helped get elected backed his nomination
oĀ Said at press conference he would not help lawmakers get re-elected if they were involved in āsome kind of criminal activity.ā
oĀ Casada disputed rumors that he planned to clean house among employees at the Legislature
Ā
2019Ā
ā¢Ā About Jan 8-Ā CasadaāsĀ budget for the legislatureĀ grows dramatically, including $6m for ālegislative operationsā plus more funds for new personnel costs
oĀ The Legislative Administration Office has confirmed:
āŖĀ that the House Speaker, Lieutenant Governor and the Senate and House Chief Clerks are now able to listen to and watch the rooms where committee meetings are occurring.Ā
āŖĀ AĀ white noise system was installed inĀ the ceilings of the hallways inside andĀ outsideĀ Casada’sĀ office.Ā
āŖĀ Cothren (CasadaāsĀ chief of staff) received a $130k raise ā making him higher paid than the Governorās chief of staff and most of theĀ Stateās Department Commissioners
ā¢Ā Potentially bundled in these personnel costs are theĀ hiring of MichaelĀ LoftiĀ for $48k/year ā his Financial disclosures show that in 2018 his consulting firm Red Ivory Strategies was paid $123,300 from CAS-PAC
ā¢Ā Recall: part of his job for CAS-PAC in 2018 was running a Facebook page working to get Rep. DavidĀ Byrd re-elected and discrediting his accusers; also, inĀ August 2016, then Speaker Harwell firedĀ LoftiĀ from working for the House b/c she feltĀ his political consulting was “in conflict with his service in the legislature.”
ā¢Ā Also possibly part of these increased costsĀ ā Rep.Ā FaisonĀ (R )Ā allegesĀ the hiring ofĀ 50% morelegislative analysts this yearĀ who were āresearching what was being saidā inside hallways of the legislature.
ā¢Ā āat least two research analysts brought on this yearĀ have developed reputations among some members as hired busybodies tasked with keeping tabs on House members ā particularly Republicans ā and reporting information back to Cothren and Casada.ā
ā¢Ā Ā
Ā
ā¢Ā January 10Ā Casada appointed Rep Byrd to chair Education subcommitteeĀ despite abuse allegations – “It is an accusation, but we cannot make actions on accusations.”
oĀ “This happened long ago, so it’sĀ not within the House of Representative’s purview”Ā
ā¢Ā Feb 19 Casada said, inĀ a video, referring to Byrd accusers, that if he had been rapedĀ he would have moved. āI donāt think theyāre lying. I think theyāre believing something thatās not true.āĀ Casada was asked twice in the video if he knows what exactly Byrd was apologizing for, and both times he said he does not know.Ā
oĀ Casada issued a statement onĀ Feb 20thattempting to clarify that he had meant re: the rape comment ā āyou should absolutely move to hold those involved fully accountableā
oĀ Also, in video Casada said re: the victims ā āThey came into my office and spoke, .Ā .[I] ālistened to the victims.ā – whichĀ was not true.
oĀ In response to being corrected on this pointĀ Cothren said: āOnce again the media is letting a liberal political activist drive their agenda instead of sticking to the facts. Speaker Casada has talked to and met with dozens of Tennesseans who have expressed their view on this matter over the last several months.” Cothren said he was “not aware of him (Casada) meeting with these specific women.” Asked if Casada lied about meeting with Byrd’s accusers, Cothren said, “No. He was referring to the many, many people he has talked to about this.”Ā
ā¢Ā Feb 20Ā reporter escorted out ofĀ CasadaāsĀ office by State Troopers after seeking comment on Byrd allegations – Ā atĀ CasadaāsĀ order
ā¢Ā Feb 21Ā Justin Jones, an African American activist, is lied to by Cothren regarding Jonesā attempts to get a meeting with Casada Ā https://youtu.be/mnJkGm6_TG8
ā¢Ā Feb 24 Casada wrote anĀ op–EdĀ in The Tennessean: āIntegrity and consistency matter with sexual misconduct allegationsā ā he falsely claimed that an āanonymous websiteā had been the source of a false claim by the Tennessean that he said that rape victims should ājust moveā
oĀ He alsoĀ accuratelyĀ saidĀ (but not in the way he meant): āIāve seenĀ first handĀ how political operatives . . . will readily, happily and irresponsibly betray actual victims of sexual misconduct as a means to an end to achieve their agenda.ā
ā¢Ā Feb 25 Jones emails Casada seeking an appointmentĀ to talkĀ
ā¢Ā Late Feb – a cup was thrown ontoĀ CasadaāsĀ elevator — activist Justin Jones was arrested for assault/released on bond – ordered to have no contact w/ Casada
ā¢Ā Feb 26Ā 3 women accusing Byrd push back onĀ CasadaāsĀ claim that he met with them to discuss allegations
oĀ Cothren said they were removed b/c they were ādisrupting the legislative processā
oĀ Gov. Lee responds with statement that all voices should be heard
ā¢Ā Feb 28Ā Microphones of 2 lawmakersĀ shut offĀ when they attempted to question Casada from the floor re Byrd protestors. Ā
ā¢Ā March 3 SpokesmanĀ for House GOP threatened to end press conference b/c reporters were asking Casada questions about sexual misconduct rather than his legislative agenda
oĀ Casada said: Your 1stĀ Amendment rights āend at your nose.ā
ā¢Ā March 3Ā Cothren forwardsĀ (altered?)Ā email from Jones to Funk claiming it is evidence of unauthorized contact
ā¢Ā MarchĀ 5Ā Cothren asked to āhold offā on filing motion – too late /Ā Casada said he “know nothing of that — nothing“
ā¢Ā March 29Ā CasadaĀ asks Byrd to step downĀ from Chairmanship b/c he had become a ādistractionā ā not due to allegations that had come to light a year previous
oĀ āFollowing discussions with members of the House and after careful consideration, I have formally asked Representative Byrd to step down from his position as Chairman of the House Education Administration Subcommittee. Representative Byrd agrees that this is the best path forward in ensuring the House of Representatives can focus on the issues that truly matter to all Tennesseans. This decision is based on input from members and to continue the orderly operations of the House. I thank Representative Byrd for agreeing to serve in this position, and I am confident this body will be even stronger moving forward,”Ā
ā¢Ā May 2Ā End of session press conference – Casada claims āthere’s something not right about that storyā, claiming it was āfake newsā
ā¢Ā May 5Ā (Sunday)Ā NewsChannelĀ 5 informed Casada and Cothren that they had photos and videos from Cothrenās texts
ā¢Ā May 5Ā – In a secretly recorded phone call, Casada accused a former associate of being the source of racist text messages sent by Cothren. “What’s happened is there’s accusations that Cade has sent some inflammatory text messages. . . You haven’t released any personal text messages Cade would have sent you, have you? . . . It sounds like you might have…. I hate that you did that.ā
ā¢Ā May 6Ā EarlyĀ MondayĀ morning – CothrenĀ confronted with past drug use and racist and sexist texts; admitted he sent āsomeā of the texts
oĀ āRegarding the texts in question, I readily admit that I sent some of them,ā Cothren said in a joint statement with Casada.
oĀ Valentine: āThe text messages ā Youāve seen those. Are they real?ā
oĀ Casada (despite knowing about the texts and their source) says this: āYou know, I asked my chief of staff point blank: āDid you do this?ā He said, āGlen, you know me. You know my characterā⦠Phil, Iāve worked with him for 10 years. I have never heard him make a derogatory, racist, or bigoted statement. ⦠I am convinced in this environment that we live in, because we as conservatives are winning the intellectual battle, Iām convinced some liberal guy living with his mom and dad in their basement created this to frame my chief of staff⦠I canāt prove it,Ā but itās the only thing that makesĀ sense. ..Ā . Ā Iām convinced this is a hatchet job by liberal activists.ā
ā¢Ā May 6Ā newscast,Ā NewsChannelĀ 5 releases second batch of lewd texts, this time implicating Casada
oĀ Gilmer had been former Speaker Harwellās chief of staff and Casada had kept him on in a different capacity, where he earned slightly less than Cothren
oĀ However, Gilmer andĀ CasadaāsĀ relationship comes with some baggage – InĀ 2009, when he wasĀ CasadaāsĀ aide, Gilmer entered a no contest plea to a misdemeanor charge for creating a fake political website and impersonating a Democratic lawmaker; Gilmer had been paid by Casada and another GOP lawmaker to provide consulting work around the same time the fake website was created. A restraining order was filed against Gilmer to have the website taken down. AĀ House Ethics complaintĀ was filed against Casada for his implications with Gilmer but that committee passed on hearing the complaint saying they āwerenāt the right bodyā.
oĀ defended his lewd exchanges saying it was “locker room talk” that does not reflect his current views about women; no longer claiming texts were false
oĀ āIām embarrassed about that. In the last couple of years, I have come to realize … I canāt doĀ thisand it is not appropriate behavior. So, yes, I participated in locker room talk with two adult men that was not intended to go to anyone else, and I was wrong. In the last several years, that kind of talk has not entered and left my mouth.ā
oĀ As for the racist text messageĀ sent to him, Casada said: āIf I received that, I don’t remember . . .If I had seen it, you would have seen another text coming from me saying ‘this has to stop’ because I know me. I know I would have responded that way if I had seen that text.”
ā¢Ā May 7Ā ā Black Caucus members call on TBI to investigate SpeakerĀ CasadaāsĀ office, Cothren involvement in Jones e-mail
oĀ Nashville DA Glenn FunkĀ asked the state DA’s conference to appoint a special prosecutor, and the TBI said it will be working with that agency to figure out its next move.
oĀ Placed a white noise machine system inside and outside his legislative office,
oĀ allowed Cothren to eavesdrop on committee rooms, and
oĀ caused enough concern among some lawmakers to have at least threeĀ to have orĀ planĀ to have their offices checked for recording devices.
āŖĀ Casada responded re: the bugging āThese accusations are untrue and inaccurate.ā Later he said, “The notion that my office would bug someone elseās office is laughable and patently false.ā
oĀ Phil Valentine calls forĀ CasadaāsĀ resignation based on his lies
āŖĀ āI don’t appreciate the fact that he came on my show and lied to everybody out there . . . I can’t believe that he hasn’t resigned already. I think it’s time to go, time to move on.”
oĀ State House, Speaker ProĀ TemĀ Bill Dunn, echoed Faison’s call.
oĀ State Rep Bob Freeman (D), Rep Sam Whitson,Ā etc
oĀ Ā
oĀ afternoon Casada apologized and released an āAction Planā
oĀ Specifically looking at whether campaign contributions were traded for votes
ā¢Ā MayĀ 9 Ā afternoonĀ Rep. Jason Zachary R said on Twitter he has formally requested that his caucus meet – wants to “discuss the direction moving forward in your House ofĀ Representatives”; said Rep. Sexton had already written the letter
ā¢Ā May 9 eveningĀ – Governor Lee weighs in ā if Casada worked for him, he would ask him to resign
ā¢Ā May 10Ā Friday –Ā Craig Northcutt, the DA for Coffee County, appointed special prosecutor to investigate emailĀ
ā¢Ā May 10Ā Reports surface that Casada had hired MichaelĀ LoftiĀ to work for him, with apparently no real duties
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