Tennessee House Speaker on FBI raid: Those subject to search warrants on 'administrative leave'
Natalie Allison
Nashville Tennessean
Published at 8:50 am CT Jan. 8, 2021 | Updated 11:40 am CT Jan 8, 2021
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.
Warner was just elected to the legislature, beating former Rep. Rick Tillis in an August Republican primary.
FBI agents carry boxes to Kent Calfee''s office at the Cordell Hull State Office Building in Nashville on Friday, Jan. 8, 2021.
House Speaker Cameron Sexton, R-Crossville, said late morning that he was placing some staff members on leave.
"Since becoming Speaker, I have been contacted by federal authorities regarding an ongoing investigation related to the former speaker’s office," Sexton said. "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.”
Three legislative staff members have been placed on leave.
Agents visited the home of Sexton's chief of staff Holt Whitt, according to a person familiar with the investigation. Whitt was a carryover from Casada's office as speaker.
Sexton will hold a news conference at 11:30 a.m., according to his spokesman.
Gov. Bill Lee acknowledged agents' activity during a Friday morning briefing.
"I’ve spoken with Speaker Sexton this morning and I’m aware of the FBI raids," Lee said. "It’s certainly very concerning. I know very little about that. There’s been no FBI outreach to us but I am confident that Speaker Sexton is on top of this situation as it unfolds.”
An agent in the Cordell Hull building on Friday could be heard telling a facilities manager that the FBI was executing search warrants.
An agent stood guard outside the office of Casada, who resigned from his position as speaker in 2019 following a vote of no-confidence from the House Republican Caucus.
Agents were also posted outside of Smith's office and the office of Rep. Kent Calfee, R-Kingston, leaving the offices with cardboard boxes full of various items.
Facility staff were seen using a drill to help agents unlock a desk in Calfee's office.
A spokesperson for the FBI referred comments to the office of Don Cochran, U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Tennessee.
David Boling, spokesman for Cochran, said he could not yet comment on the matter, other than to acknowledge agents' presence at the building.
Neither Casada nor Smith immediately returned requests for comment.
Calfee said he wasn't aware that agents were in his office.
"I didn't have a clue," Calfee said. "I hadn't heard."
Meghan Mangrum contributed.
This is a developing story.
https://www.tennessean.com/story/news/politics/2021/01/08/fbi-agents-search-offices-multiple-tennessee-republicans-capitol/6593526002/
Man in Viral Photo says "That ain’t her desk – we loaned her that desk."
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"As I’m looking for the bathroom I walked by and there were doors opened to offices. I looked in and saw it was Nancy Pelosi’s office," he told KFSM. "I sat down here in my desk. I’m a taxpayer. I’m a patriot. That ain’t her desk – we loaned her that desk," he continued. "
The photo, taken by Getty Images' Win McNamee, quickly spread on social media following reports of the chaos erupting at the nation’s capital.
https://youtu.be/9hlHk4jHg-k