Former Tennessee State Representative Robin Smith, who is also a former chairman of the State Republican Party, has been ordered to forfeit the funds she earned as part of an illegal scheme with now-convicted former House Speaker Glen Casada and his top aide, Cade Cothren.
As part of Smith’s plea deal, which also involved testifying against Casada and Cothren, she has agreed to forfeit $28,263.26, which she earned from Phoenix Solutions as part of a fraudulent vendor operation operated by the three.
Smith is still awaiting sentencing for her role, having pleaded guilty in March 2022 and agreed to cooperate with the prosecution. Most legal experts believe she will get probation rather than jail time thanks to her plea deal with the government.
Casada and Cothren are appealing their convictions for fraud and conspiracy in the federal corruption case. A jury of six men and six women found both of them guilty of multiple counts in May. They are facing significant jail time and fines as a result of the convictions.
There has been some speculation among Tennessee political observers that Casada and Cothren will seek pardons from President Trump in the event their appeals ultimately fail. Most believe it is unlikely that Trump would intervene.
However, in March, former Republican state representative Brian Kelsey was able to secure a pardon from President Trump shortly after he reported to jail after his conviction for a campaign fraud scheme. Kelsey was sentenced to a 21-month federal prison term. Following his release from prison, Kelsey attempted to persuade the legislature to pass a bill that would allow him to use his campaign funds to cover his criminal legal expenses. The Republican supermajority legislature declined.
Kelsey is now engaged in what some are calling a “comeback tour” in the Memphis area, where he previously represented Germantown in the state legislature.
Steve Gill is an attorney and publisher of TriStar Daily.
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