TN House Speaker's chief of staff admits past drug use, confirms text messages

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: NewsChannel5, Nashville

TN House Speaker's chief of staff admits past drug use, confirms text messages
Posted: 10:41 AM, May 06, 2019 Updated: 12:04 PM, May 06, 2019
By: Phil Williams

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) -- Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada's chief of staff has admitted to using illegal drugs - including snorting cocaine in his legislative offices - in response to text messages obtained by NewsChannel 5 Investigates.

Cade Cothren made the admission Monday morning after NewsChannel 5 provided him with text messages from 2015 and 2016 - including photos - in which he bragged to a former acquaintance about his exploits. NewsChannel 5 Investigates also has related videos.

At the time, Cothren was press secretary for the Tennessee House Republican Caucus. ... "Regarding the texts in question, I readily admit that I sent some of them," Cothren said in a joint statement with Casada. ... "I do so because they are part of a personal testimony that I am privileged to share, which is not lost on me."

WATCH NC5 at 6: More of Cothren's text messages

The incriminating text messages were part of a batch obtained by NewsChannel 5 Investigates that included racist sentiments. Last week, Casada had tried to discredit NewsChannel 5's reporting, suggesting that the text messages had been fabricated.
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Read more: https://www.newschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/tn-house-speakers-chief-of-staff-admits-past-drug-use-confirms-text-messages

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SnittyGrappleHat Retweeted

https://twitter.com/Popehat

We all love a devastating own, but there's something to be said for letting dry AP style work its magic.

For example, this writeup of the Tennessee House Speaker responding after his chief of staff admitted to sending racist text messages and doing coke https://www.newschannel5.com/news/newschannel-5-investigates/tn-house-speakers-chief-of-staff-admits-past-drug-use-confirms-text-messages ...

Link to tweet

[saidsimplesimon]

1. The evangelicals will wipe the slate clean if he repents

and promises to never do it again. Heck, it may just give him a head start as the next Repuplican dog running for President. snark

[keithbvadu2]

2. "a shot at redemption" If you are from the right party.

"a shot at redemption"

If you are from the right party.

[MySideOfTown]

3. I tried it once in my 20s.

50 years later, I never tried it again. It sucked. Maybe if you could get it in a 5 cent coke/s

[mahatmakanejeeves]

4. House Speaker Glen Casada tells radio station he's not resigning, calls his texts 'locker room talk'

Hat tip, Joe.My.God.: Tennessee GOP House Speaker Won’t Resign After Chief Of Staff Quits In Racism, Sexism, And Cocaine Scandal

House Speaker Glen Casada tells radio station he's not resigning, calls his texts 'locker room talk'
Joel Ebert, Nashville Tennessean Published 10:20 a.m. CT May 7, 2019 | Updated 11:26 a.m. CT May 7, 2019

House Speaker Glen Casada said Tuesday he will not resign from his leadership position, despite participating in sexually charged text messages with his now former chief of staff.

Speaking to WTN's Brian Wilson, the Franklin Republican said he had no intentions to step down, adding, "I'm sorry that I did it and I'm embarrassed that I did it."

Casada's comments come after the USA TODAY NETWORK - Tennessee published a story featuring text messages sent from a cellphone number associated with Cade Cothren, Casada's now former top aide and the Republican lawmaker.

Casada was included in some of the staff member’s derogatory comments toward women.
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