Sunday, June 2, 2019
Idiot of the week: Glen Casada, GOP Tenn. House Speaker: Sent sexually charged text messages about women
Here's the story: Republican Tennessee House Speaker To Resign After Lewd And Sexist Texts
Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada, a Republican, said on Tuesday he plans to step down from his position after lewd and racist text messages between him and his former chief of staff were leaked to the media.
Casada's decision comes hours after the House Republican Caucus cast an unprecedented 45-24 no-confidence vote for the speaker.
"When I return to town on June 3, I will meet with caucus leadership to determine the best date for me to resign as speaker," Casada said Tuesday.
Opposition to his leadership snowballed after texts were leaked to the media in which Casada and his now-former chief of staff, Cade Cothren, traded lewd remarks. Sent in the summer of 2016, the messages show Casada egging on the aide as he bragged about a sexual encounter in a restaurant bathroom, as one example.
T he leaks also included a text message in which Cothren disparaged African Americans, calling black people "idiots." Only one of those went to Casada, and it is not clear whether he responded.
Casada first questioned the authenticity of the texts, then wrote them off in an interview as "locker room talk." Finally, Casada conceded that the texts were real, and he apologized.
The speaker has served nearly 20 years in the state House of Representatives and been a top leader for more than a decade.
THE COMPANY THEY KEEP:
What's more, Cade Cothren, Casada's chief of staff issued his resignation for sexual harassment, racist messages, evidence tampering to frame a civil rights activist and more. No wonder he was working for Casada. Two of a kind.
Video: https://www.localmemphis.com/video/cade-cothren-chief-of-staff-for-house-speaker-glen-casada-issued-his-resignation_20190507031616/1984998301
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I'm a simple guy who enjoys the simple things in life, especially our dogs. I volunteer for dog rescues, enjoy exercising, blogging, politics, helping friends and neighbors, participating in ghost investigations, coffee, weather, superheroes, comic books, mystery novels, traveling, 70s and 80s music, classic country music,writing books on ghosts and spirits, cooking simply and keeping in shape. You'll find tidbits of all of these things on this blog and more. EMAIL me at Rgutro@gmail.com - Rob