As House Speaker Glen Casada continues to allay concerns about his ability to lead while dealing with the fallout of a scandal involving his former chief of staff, the USA TODAY Network - Tennessee has learned the Williamson County Republican has:

a white noise machine system inside and outside his legislative office,

allowed his now former chief of staff to eavesdrop on committee rooms, and

caused concern among some lawmakers, leading at least three to have or plan to have their offices checked for recording devices.

White noise machines are used to diminish the potential for recording or overhearing conversations.

A white noise system was installed in the ceilings of the hallways inside and outside Casada's office.

The USA TODAY Network - Tennessee requested construction and renovation costs from the legislature's director of administration.

As of publication, the request has not been granted.

UPDATE: Democrats address allegations of eavesdropping, bugging

No such similar system exists outside any other legislative offices.

Generally speaking, Tennessee lawmakers typically think their legislative offices are havens to discuss policy and politics while meeting with constituents and prepping for meetings.

But this year, several lawmakers expressed fear that someone might be recording what they say in those private meetings.

Several lawmakers told the USA TODAY Network - Tennessee that they had or wanted to have their legislative offices swept for recording devices.

The lawmakers were not unified in their suspicions of who might be behind the potential recording devices.

A view of Fox News and committee rooms

Until Tuesday, on the sixth floor of the legislature's Cordell Hull building, Casada's former chief of staff Cade Cothren sat in a sparsely decorated office.

Two large television screens on the wall across from his desk allowed Cothren to simultaneously watch Fox News and view all House committee rooms.

Cothren had the ability to eavesdrop on the legislative committee rooms at all times, whether or not the panels were meeting.

Livestreaming and recordings of committee meetings are publicly available only when the committee is in session. Once meetings end, the video feed of the meeting room terminates.

Cothren said earlier this year the system gave him the ability to not only view the rooms at all times but he could also listen to any conversations in the rooms.

After the bragging earlier this year to a reporter about his ability to listen into committee rooms at any times, Cothren denied such comments in text messages late Tuesday and early Wednesday. After the publication of this story, Cothren similarly said the audio-video system did not give him such capabilities.

Rick Nicholson, Lt. Gov. Randy McNally's chief of staff, does not have a similar system installed in his office to view or listen to state senators.

But McNally does have a television screen inside his office that allows him to view legislative committee meetings. The lieutenant governor, however, does not have the ability to listen in on the meetings unless they are in session.

The revelations of the potential office bugging, installation of white noise machines and the former chief of staff's ability to eavesdrop on committee rooms come at a time when Casada has faced increased scrutiny for his participation in lewd text messages sent between him, Cothren and others.

Cothren on Monday admitted using cocaine while in the legislative office building. He also solicited sex from an intern and a lobbyist in lewd text messages obtained by the USA TODAY Network - Tennessee.

In addition, he sent inappropriate and misogynistic sexually explicit text messages to Casada and others. He resigned Monday evening.

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Reach Joel Ebert at jebert@tennessean.com or 615-772-1681 and on Twitter @joelebert29.