Tennessee House Speaker on FBI raid: Those subject to search warrants on 'administrative leave'

[Wicked Blue]

Federal agents descended on multiple Tennessee Republican House members' homes and state offices on Friday, collecting evidence while executing search warrants.

At least 10 agents from the FBI entered the Cordell Hull legislative office building just before 8 a.m., fanning out to multiple offices carrying empty boxes with them.

The U.S. Attorney's Office for the Middle District of Tennessee confirmed the FBI visited the homes of former House Speaker Glen Casada, R-Franklin; Rep. Robin Smith, R-Hixson; Rep. Todd Warner, R-Chapel Hill; and former Casada aide Cade Cothren.

According to multiple people with knowledge of the investigation, agents searched their homes.

The FBI also searched the office of Rep. Kent Calfee, R-Kingston, though House Speaker Cameron Sexton said he understood that Calfee "is not part of the investigation." Calfee's legislative assistant, however, has been placed on administrative leave in connection with the inquiry.

https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/08/fbi-agents-search-offices-multiple-tennessee-republicans-capitol/6593526002/

[apnu]

1. what the hell is going on there?

This can't be related to the mayhem of Jan. 6th.

[Wicked Blue]

2. No clue, sorry nt

[Demsrule86]

4. Sure it is.

[apnu]

6. FBI raids this organized don't happen over night

I think this is some other rot in TN.

[southerncrone]

10. This

https://www.cnn.com/2019/05/21/politics/tennessee-house-speaker-glen-casada-to-resign/index.html

[apnu]

11. Oh good find. Thanks!

DU always delivers.

[southerncrone]

13. I'm a Tennessean. (Not proud of that much anymore)

Live in Middle TN, remember this well.

[FSogol]

7. Coordination of the attack on the US Capitol? n/t

[Vivienne235729]

12. there were actual R representatives in that Jan 6th insurrection. I don't know if these

people are the same. But it would not surprise me one bit.

[Demsrule86]

3. Traitors within.

[Nevilledog]

5. ...

[southerncrone]

8. TN GOP site is apparently shut down. Robin Smith ws recent head.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

9. Here's some background regarding this investigation...

House Speaker places all involved in federal investigation at Cordell Hull building on leave
WSM TV - Nashville
Joe Wenzel
Posted on Jan 8, 2021

Link: https://www.wsmv.com/news/house-speaker-places-all-involved-in-federal-investigation-at-cordell-hull-building-on-leave/article_4d2f4dac-51be-11eb-ad1d-4733f51a4a3d.html?block_id=994460

Excerpts:

Current Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton said he has been "contacted by federal authorities regarding an ongoing investigation related to the former speaker’s office."
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Casada was the Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives from January through August 2019. He resigned amid a scandal involving racist and sexist text messages as well as additional allegations of misconduct.
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"I have been, and I will continue to be in full cooperation with the authorities as their investigation continues. On the advice of both Ethics and Legal Counsel, I am placing everyone that was subject to the execution of today’s search warrants on administrative leave until further notice," Sexton said in a statement on Friday.
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It is unclear at this time why federal authorities are raiding Casada’s office. Speaking during a coronavirus press briefing Friday morning, Governor Bill Lee said he was made aware of the FBI raids but knows very little.

KY