TN House Speaker's chief of staff admits past drug use, confirms text messages
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
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
(7,888 posts)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
(36,937 posts)"a shot at redemption"
If you are from the right party.
MySideOfTown
(225 posts)50 years later, I never tried it again. It sucked. Maybe if you could get it in a 5 cent coke/s
mahatmakanejeeves
(57,621 posts)Hat tip, Joe.My.God.: Tennessee GOP House Speaker Wont Resign After Chief Of Staff Quits In Racism, Sexism, And Cocaine Scandal
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 members derogatory comments toward women.
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