05/24/2019
In preparation for the launch of our website, we have decided to begin our weekly blog series, The Pettigrew (blog) Post, a bit early. The goal of this blog will be to inform and facilitate discussion regarding legal matters in our beautiful home state of Tennessee. That being said our first Pettigrew (blog) Post falls into the political realm, revolving around the Glen Casada and Cade Cothren Scandals. We hope you have time to read it!
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The Pettigrew (blog) Post #1
Casada’s Text Messages
In the May 10th issue of the Tennessee Bar Association Today newsletter, Governor Bill Lee and Lieutenant Governor Randy McNally publicly called for Tennessee Speaker of the House, Glen Casada's, resignation. In a public statement, McNally claimed he wants the house of representatives to be able to “address the issues they are facing without distraction”. The scandal surrounding the Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives, Glen Casada, and his Chief of staff, Cade Cothren, had become just that, a distraction to the legislators. However, to Justin Jones, the activist who unintentionally stirred the Casada and Cothren pot, it is more than a political distraction, it is just one example of the brokenness in the justice system that allows unethical and illegal behavior to go unpunished. Further researching the Glen Casada scandal there are several points that lead to the scandal which are important to consider as constituents.
Casada’s scandal and his call for resignation happened rather expeditiously, however the trouble has been stirring beneath the surface since Casada was sworn in. Two days after Casada was sworn in, he appointed David Byrd to the head of The Education Administration Subcommittee. This appointment was controversial due to recent allegations of sexual assault against Byrd. A little over a month after Byrd's appointment, Casada is reported confronting outside an activist, Justin Jones, outside the capitol building. Only four days after his dispute with Jones Casada makes seemingly false statements, claiming to have met with the women who are accusing Byrd of sexual assault. Reporters later contact the women, and none substantiate Casada's claim about a meeting. On April 30th a bill in the Tennessee House of Representative riles up local businesspeople as they feel it targets specific marginalized groups, specifically the LGBTQ community. Casada responds to these businesses’ objection to the bill by asking them “not to get involved in politics”. Only a few days after the comment, reports are released potentially connecting Casada's chief of staff, Cade Cothren, to an attempt to frame the young activist Justin Jones to revoke his bail and send him back to jail. Despite this troubling record, the Lieutenant Governor and the Governor refused to make a statement on Casada until early May, when text messages between Casada’s Chief of staff, Cothren, and Casada began to come out.
On May 6th The Tennessean publishes the text messages between Speaker of the House, Glen Casada, and his Chief of Staff, Cade Cothren. Both men are criticized for their racist speech and sexual objectification of women in the texts. Despite the months of unethical and questionable behavior exhibited by Casada and Cothren, both men continued to remain in their positions of power and there had been little to none demand for Casada to resign. The day after Casada’s and Cothren’s texts are published legislators and constituents begin calling for Casada's resignation.
This particular political scandal reminds us how damning a written record can be (this includes text messages and emails!). The Casada scandal is a reminder to be thoughtful about the words you place into writing. Once it's a written record, your words may be used against you.
Although the position of Speaker of the House is an appointed position, it is typically given to a member of the House of Representatives, meaning positions of power are still indirectly given to those the people have chosen to elect. The Casada scandal is a humbling reminder to know your representative. It feels as if every day a new political scandal surfaces. These political dramas only emphasize the desperate call for political participation in our country. We have a duty as constituents to research ballots and know the candidates, before the vote. Thus, it cannot be emphasized enough, know your ballot, and use your voice to participate by voting, writing letters to your representatives, and even writing letters to you D.A. if you feel a representative has broken the law.
On May 20th the Tennessee House of Representatives voted “no confidence” in Casada. The next day Casada announced his intent to resign, a date for his resignation will be set upon his return to the House on June 3rd.
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Sources:
"McNally Calls for Casada to Step Down as Speaker." TBA Today. May 10, 2019. Accessed May 22, 2019.
Wigdor, Andrew. "Glen Casada's Fall from Grace: A Timeline of the Speaker's Controversial Tenure." The Tennessean. May 21, 2019. Accessed May 23, 2019.
