Mistrial Consideration Looms in Casada and Cothren Corruption Trial
In a significant development in the political corruption trial of former House Speaker Glen Casada and his ex-aide Cade Cothren, the defense may request a mistrial. This follows a procedural misstep related to an audio recording that was meant to be redacted prior to its presentation in court.
U.S. District Court Judge Eli Richardson sent the jury home before it could be seated, after defense attorney Cynthia Sherwood expressed concerns over the audio played on Monday. The tape features Casada speaking to FBI agents during a raid on his Franklin home in January 2021, where he mentioned that Speaker Cameron Sexton disapproved of Cothren’s role as a vendor for the constituent mail program.
During Tuesday’s proceedings, the court was prepared to allow Sherwood to consult with Cothren regarding the potential mistrial, as they considered remedies for the error. Although Judge Richardson did not definitively state that a mistrial motion would be unsuccessful, he emphasized the importance of avoiding such mistakes in the trial process.
The tape, requested by Casada’s defense attorney Ed Yarbrough to be played in its entirety, reportedly included contentious remarks about Sexton and previous scandals that led to Cothren’s resignation in 2019.
Both Casada and Cothren face 20 counts of fraud, bribery, and kickbacks linked to an alleged scheme to exploit the state’s constituent mailer program. Recent testimony from former Rep. Robin Smith indicated that Casada and Cothren targeted the mail program as an accessible avenue for their plan, given the absence of elections at that time.
As the trial progresses, the possibility of a mistrial raises questions regarding the integrity of the proceedings and the future of this high-profile case.
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