More than a dozen current and former lawmakers could be called to testify in the corruption trial of former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada, who rejected a plea deal in the case, and ex-chief of staff Cade Cothren, federal prosecutors revealed at Tuesday’s trial opening.
Current House Speaker Cameron Sexton of Crossville tops the list of potential witnesses, along with House Republican Whip Johnny Garrett of Goodlettsville.
Sexton confirmed early in the investigation that he has been cooperating with prosecutors from the U.S. Attorney’s office. In March, the defense team alleged the government was withholding information about the identity of people who secretly gathered information and that Sexton wore a wire to record conversations between him, Casada and Cothren.
Other House Republicans on the list of witnesses who could be called are Reps. Justin Lafferty of Knoxville, Jay Reedy of Erin, Jason Zachary of Knoxville, Dennis Powers of LaFollette, Scott Cepicky of Culleoka, Tim Rudd and Charlie Baum of Murfreesboro and Esther Helton-Haynes of East Ridge.