An investigation has led federal authorities to raid the offices and homes of GOP elected officials in Tennessee.
Federal investigators have been spotted carrying boxes out of the home of Former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada, and are reportedly still on the scene. The FBI has also been seen at multiple state Republican legislative locations.
A reporter for local news outlet WSMV shared footage of the scene on Twitter, writing: “We just saw some Federal investigators walk into Former House Speaker Glen Casada’s home. When the door opened we saw somebody inside taking pictures.”
#HappeningNow
We just saw some Federal investigators walk into Former House Speaker Glen Casada’s home.When the door opened we saw somebody inside taking pictures.@WSMV pic.twitter.com/AMZuuaZnHE
— Tosin Fakile (@TosinfaksTV) January 8, 2021
Among the legislative locations the FBI raided on January 8 are the offices of Casada and State Representative Robin Smith, located inside the Cordell Hull building.
Casada took the position of Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives in January of 2019, but was forced to resign in August of the same year due to allegations of misconduct and a scandal involving racist and sexist text messages.
Multiple sources have told the local news outlet that other raids will be taking place in the coming weeks as part of this investigation.
Sources tell News 4 FBI agents are raiding the offices of Republican lawmakers this morning in the Cordell Hull building (where we are). That includes the office of Former House Speaker Glen Casada. @WSMV pic.twitter.com/NWgWOUEfbx
— Marissa Sulek (@marissa_sulek) January 8, 2021
Current Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton announced that he has been “contacted by federal authorities regarding an ongoing investigation related to the former speaker’s office.”
An update on the situation has been provided by Sexton as of January 8 at 11:30 a.m.
“Since becoming Speaker, I have been contacted by federal authorities regarding an ongoing investigation related to the former speaker’s office. 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.
The reason why Casada’s office is being raided by federal authorities is unclear at this time. During a coronavirus press briefing on the morning of January 8, Governor Bill Lee said that he is aware of the FBI raids but knows very little about the investigation.
