Judge denies mistrial request in Tennessee corruption case

The judge in a federal corruption case against former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada and an ex-aide denied a request by the defense teams for a mistrial.

The ruling by Judge Eli Richardson came Wednesday after attorneys for Casada and his former chief of staff, Cade Cothren, claimed prejudicial evidence was introduced to the jury, after government lawyers played audio that should have been redacted.

The prosecution wrapped up its case and jurors were sent home Wednesday. The rest of the day in court was expected to spent on motions and preparing jury instructions before the defense makes it case.

The audio of Casada’s January 2021 interview with FBI agents included Casada saying House Speaker Cameron Sexton did not like Cothren and wouldn’t have approved the use of a political consulting firm formed by Casada and Cothren had he known Cothren was involved.

Arguments for a mistrial by the defense rested on the assumption that airing of the audio constituted testimony by Casada against his co-defendant.

In his ruling, Richardson said that while the tape should have been redacted, he was not convinced the unredacted portion of the interview was “powerfully incriminating.” The judge said he understood that Cothren could be “frustrated,” but he also questioned why the defense waited before asking for a mistrial and raised doubts about whether jury members had paid attention to the questionable section.

The trial is now in its third week and the prosecution is expected to rest its case by week’s end.

(Sam Stockard contributed to this story.)