The president has spared several high-profile Republicans from prison time since returning to the White House in January.
President Donald Trump has pardoned former Tennessee House Speaker Glen Casada, who was handed a 36-month sentence in September for fraud, money laundering and conspiracy charges tied to a scheme involving constituent mailer services.
Trump also pardoned Casada’s former chief of staff, Cade Cothren, who received a 30-month sentence. The two were indicted in August 2022 and convicted this May.
A White House official, granted anonymity to discuss the pardon, accused the Biden administration of coming down too hard on Casada and Cothren.
“The Biden Department of Justice significantly over-prosecuted these individuals for a minor issue involving constituent mailers — which were billed at competitive prices, never received a complaint from legislators, and resulted in a net profit loss of less than $5,000,” the official said in a statement. “The Biden DOJ responded with an armed raid, perp walk, and suggested sentences exceeding 10 years — penalties normally reserved for multimillion dollar fraudsters.”
Trump has spared several high-profile Republicans since returning to the White House in January. He pardoned Michele Fiore, the former Las Vegas City Council member occasionally dubbed “Lady Trump” just before her sentencing on fraud charges in the spring. In October, he granted clemency to former GOP lawmaker George Santos, fewer than three months into a seven-year sentence for wire fraud and identity theft.
Trump also gave clemency to former New York House Rep. Michael Grimm and former Connecticut Gov. John Rowland — two more Republicans — in May. And in February, he pardoned former Democratic Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, a former “Celebrity Apprentice” guest who these days calls himself a “Trumpocrat.”
Cothren has played into the administration’s distrust of the Biden White House.
“Targeted by Biden’s DOJ for standing with Trump,” his bio reads on X. “Convicted for refusing to break. Redeemed by grace — and not done yet.”