Former Republican speaker of the Tennessee House

Glen Casada

a.k.a. “The Speaker”

He and his former chief of staff were convicted of a kickback scheme that ran taxpayer money through a mail vendor operating under a fake name. He got three years. Before he reported to prison, Trump called him personally, and then pardoned both men.

Rap sheet

Convicted of: Conspiracy to defraud the U.S.; honest services wire fraud; money laundering; using a fictitious name [1]
Court: Middle District of Tennessee [1]
Sentenced: September 23, 2025: 36 months [1]
Granted: Pardon, November 7, 2025; his aide Cade Cothren too [2]

The receipt

PARDONMAXXING GLEN CASADA - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Wiped off the books

Prison [3] 3 years, before he reported

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Gold is money that was reportedly spent near the President’s orbit. Red is what the grant wiped away. We list what was reported and when. We don’t claim one caused the other. How we count.

Timeline

September 23, 2025 The law Sentenced to three years. [1]
November 7, 2025 The pardon Pardoned, along with his former chief of staff. [2][3]

Detective’s notes

Commentary

Six weeks from sentencing to pardon. The mail moves faster when you know the speaker.

Sources

Clemency grants by President Donald J. Trump, 2025–present (archived Sept. 20, 2026) U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Pardon Attorney, via the Internet Archive
Signed clemency warrant: Glen Casada U.S. Department of Justice, Office of the Pardon Attorney · November 7, 2025
Trump pardons Tennessee’s Glen Casada and Cade Cothren CBS News