NASHVILLE, Tenn. (WTVF) – Gloomy groups working behind the scenes to settle Republican accounts – playing with money that cannot be tracked.
This situation, exposed for the first time by NewsChannel 5 Investigates, it appears to be conducting the latest FBI investigation of Capitol corruption.
On Friday, FBI agents removed boxes of evidence from the Tennessee Capitol. Included among that evidence, NewsChannel 5 found, were computers and other materials potentially linked to a group of obscure campaign firms.
It was part of a series of morning attacks that began at Franklin’s home by former Tennessee Mayor, Glen Casada.
Related: FBI executes search and seizure warrants against former mayor Casada and other Republicans
Also targeted: two former advisers to Casada, along with Republican Rep. Robin Smith of Hamilton County and newly elected Rep. Todd Warner of Marshall County.
Last summer, NewsChannel 5 revealed for the first time how attack aid, intended for Rep. Rick Tillis of Lewisburg, was sent by a dismal group, the Faith Family Freedom Fund, which claimed to have raised or spent no money.
We found that a postal license number used for one of these correspondences was the same one used by Todd Warner … who defeated Tillis in the Republican primary.
Related: Anonymous campaign attack targets Republican legislator
“A lot of unaccounted money flowed into that race,” said Erik Schelzig, editor of the Tennessee Journal, a respected political bulletin. “Nobody really knows where it came from and who was spending it.”
Following the NewsChannel 5 report, Schelzig plunged deeply into the finances behind that dark campaign to take down Tillis, which Glen Casada had targeted for defeat.
Casada supported Warner “who had spent more than $ 120,000 of his own money, which surprised many people there because he had declared federal bankruptcy a few years ago because he was unable to pay $ 20 million in debt,” Schelzig noted.
That postal license number led to a little-known company called Phoenix Solutions in New Mexico. Phoenix Solutions worked for several Republican candidates.
“Phoenix Solutions is a new actor on the political scene in Tennessee and this is where it connects to Rep. Robin Smith, who has been pushing to use this supplier since he joined the Legislature,” added the editor of the Tennessee Journal.
After a NewsChannel 5 investigation led to Casada’s resignation as a spokesperson in the summer of 2019, an audit of his campaign finances revealed about $ 100,000 in expenses of which he had no income.
AND NewsChannel 5 Investigates revealed allegations of an alleged bribe Casada offered to pass school vouchers – an allegation he denied.
Now, there is this investigation.
“It seems that once they start to lift, peel the onion,” said Schelzig, “you’ll find many elements to examine more closely – many related to obscure fundraising and activities that don’t appear above the plate at first glance.”
As for Rep. Kent Calfee, the Republican from Roane County whose office was broken into, Capitol sources tell NewsChannel 5 that the focus is on his assistant, not him. The assistant’s daughter dates Casada’s former chief of staff, Cade Cothren.
A lawyer for Todd Warner also sent the following statement:
“Deputy Todd Warner is a successful small business owner, farmer and freshman legislator. Deputy Warner and his family were shocked by the events of the morning of Friday, January 8th. Federal agents raided Congressman Warner’s home and business. in Marshall County with warrant searches, the contents of which remain a mystery to the government. Significantly, Dep. Warner has not been charged with any wrongdoing.
“Congressman Warner can assure citizens of his district that he has not violated any law and is grateful for any investigation.
“Congressman Warner’s goal now is to serve all citizens in his district, whether they voted for him or not, and he expects to be sworn in on Tuesday, January 12th.”