NASHVILLE – Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton and at least two other legislators have been subpoenaed to go before a federal grand jury Monday as part of an FBI investigation that’s already netted a guilty plea by former state Rep. Robin Smith, R-Hixson, to wire fraud in a kickback scheme involving taxpayer-funded constituent mail.
“We have been fully cooperating with the federal authorities since I became speaker in 2019,” Sexton said in a statement. “It is not unexpected that I and other members would be called to appear before a federal grand jury to provide factual statements as part of this ongoing investigation.”
Others confirming they have been called to testify are Reps. Esther Helton, R-East Ridge, and Rep. Bud Hulsey, R-Kingsport.
Neither they nor Sexton have been accused of any wrongdoing.
“I imagine I’m a witness for the prosecution,” Helton told the Times Free Press during an interview in her office on Wednesday.