AP: US Attorney: FBI agents search lawmakers’ offices and homes

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — U.S. Attorney’s Office of Middle Tennessee on Friday said FBI agents have been searching the homes and offices of state lawmakers.

The searches included the homes of former GOP House Speaker Glen Casada and state Rep. Robin Smith, U.S. Attorney’s Office spokesman David Boling confirmed.

Boling declined to provide any further information regarding the nature of the searches and how many lawmakers were involved.

A spokesman for the FBI referred all questions to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Republican Gov. Bill Lee told reporters Friday that he had spoken to current House Speaker Cameron Sexton about the searches, describing them as “FBI raids.”

“It’s certainly very concerning. I know very little about that. There’s been no FBI outreach to us,” Lee said. “But I have confidence that Speaker Sexton is on top of the situation and we’ll learn more as this unfolds.”

Casada resigned from the top leadership post in 2019 after revelations he exchanged sexually explicit text messages about women with his former chief of staff years ago.

Other controversies included an aide’s cocaine use at a legislative office years ago and allegations of doctoring emails to frame a young black activist – which Casada and the aide both denied.

There were also claims of vote-buying attempts on a key education voucher bill arose, which he has firmly denied.

Casada did not immediately respond to text messages seeking comment.