Top Federal grand jury subpoenas Tennessee Republican. Corruption scandal is growing, and there may be many more to come.

In a widening corruption scandal, up to a dozen other Republicans in the Tennessee legislature could face subpoenas.

"Tennessee House Speaker Cameron Sexton was summoned to appear before a federal grand jury as part of the FBI's investigation into Capitol Hill corruption. Legislative sources said they believed up to 10-12 other House Republicans also received grand jury subpoenas on Tuesday. "

"This dramatic development follows the recent guilty plea of former Deputy Robin Smith, R-Hickson, to federal wire fraud charges involving a mystery company that provided postal services to Republican lawmakers, using campaign funds and taxpayer funding."

In a statement, Sexton suggested calling other members of his party.

Sexton said: "We have cooperated fully with federal authorities since I became Speaker of the House of Representatives in 2019.

•  I and other members are not expected to be summoned to appear before a grand jury to make factual statements as part of this ongoing investigation ".

• Smith agreed to cooperate with federal authorities in an ongoing investigation into a covert political consulting firm

• reportedly founded by Kady Cotheren, a former senior adviser to former House Speaker Glenn Casada, R. Franklin.

Smith admitted conspiring with Cothrin and Casada, both still members of the House of Representatives, to deceive the state and members of their Republican caucus.

In 2019, Cothrin resigned, claiming that the continuation of his work was "just a distraction."

• Speaker Glen Casada's chief of staff, Kid Cothrin, resigned after allegedly calling for sex in text messages to trainees

• lobbyists and the use of illicit drugs in the Legislative Office building.

• Cothren, a longtime associate of Casada, was appointed chief of staff in January and received $199,800

• the third highest wage for a legislative officer, before retiring.

Smith allegedly received two payments from Phoenix Solutions totaling more than $24,000 in September and December 2020, which she placed in her consulting firm's bank account, according to the information.

According to information contained in the court document

Smith helped others develop a plan to defraud citizens of Tennessee's Central District, including two unnamed individuals believed to be former House Speaker Glen Casada and his former House Speaker. Staff Kid Cothrin.

The unidentified 1 was a member of Tennessee House, first elected in 2003, and served as chairman of Tennessee House from around January 2019 until around August 2019, when he resigned when a public scandal emerged, according to the information. Person 2 was a businessman and former Chief of Staff for Individual 1 when he was Speaker of the Tennessee House of Representatives.