Overview
- Casada and Cothren received full presidential pardons weeks after federal convictions tied to a statehouse mailer operation.
- Casada was sentenced in September to 36 months in prison after conviction on multiple counts, and Cothren received a two-and-a-half-year term.
- Prosecutors said the pair used a consulting firm called Phoenix Solutions and a fictitious persona, “Matthew Phoenix,” to steer about $52,000 in taxpayer-funded mail business.
- A White House official said the case drew no complaints from legislators, involved competitive pricing, and yielded a net profit loss under $5,000, calling earlier tactics like raids and lengthy suggested sentences excessive.
- Critics said the move weakens accountability for public officials and note it fits a pattern, citing earlier pardons of figures such as Rod Blagojevich, John Rowland and Michael Grimm, as well as the commutation of George Santos’ sentence.