During a remarkable Wednesday afternoon conference phone call with members of the House Republican caucus, Speaker Glen Casada faced a call for his resignation and questions about his ability to continue serving.

Rep. Bill Dunn, R-Knoxville, who is Casada's immediate successor, called for Casada to resign while others in the 73-member caucus questioned whether the speaker can survive the current scandal.

The Tennessean listened to the business-like phone call after being invited to by multiple lawmakers.

Casada tried to assure members there would be no other damaging information related to the scandal. "Let me be very clear, there is nothing else to come out," Casada said during the more than 30-minute call.

Dunn's demand comes two days after The Tennessean and other newsrooms of the USA TODAY NETWORK in Tennessee published a story highlighting how Casada and his former chief of staff sent sexually explicit and misogynistic text messages.

"He and I had a talk yesterday," said Dunn, the speaker pro tempore. "I shared with him my feelings about how I thought it would be better for him to step down."

Calling Casada a "political animal," Dunn said the speaker is great at being a politician.

"I told somebody that by the time this phone call is over you'll have convinced us to put a statue of you up in the Capitol," Dunn said.

Dunn said Casada's initial reaction is to do what is politically expedient instead of doing what's right.

"The truth eventually comes out," he said. "Once again when the truth comes out, we have to have the defense and the deflection and everything."

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The conference call came as Casada faces scrutiny for his participation in lewd text messages about women and supporting his now former chief of staff, who admitted to using cocaine in the legislative office building.

"I want to take ownership of what I did, which was wrong" Casada said. "I sent a text to Cade and another individual with inappropriate comments. It was base at best."

Casada described how he was in a "bad place in life" — referring to the 2016 text messages in question.

In the text messages, Casada joked with Cade Cothren, his former chief of staff, about the staffer having sex with a woman in a restaurant bathroom. In another, Casada responded to a photo of woman pole dancing, asking if he could "just touch."

Rep. Patsy Hazlewood, R-Signal Mountain, questioned whether Casada was fit to continue leading the House. On Tuesday, Hazlewood sent a letter to Casada and others outlining her concerns with recent reports.

Rep. Jerry Sexton, R-Bean Station, said the Republican caucus needed to do some soul searching.

"The Republican Party and our caucus is at stake here," Sexton said. "For the sake of the caucus and the Republican Party, we need to make the best decision in that respect."

Sexton said he would like the caucus to hold a "vote of confidence" to determine where the Republicans are regarding the speaker.

Rep. David Hawk, R-Greeneville, said what has happened in recent months "is not normal."

Hawk sent a letter to Casada earlier in the week calling for Casada to "bow out gracefully and resign." Last fall, Hawk ran against Casada to be the GOP nominee for House speaker.

But not all on Wednesday's call had concerns about Casada's ability to lead the chamber.

Reps. Andy Holt, R-Dresden; Susan Lynn, R-Mt. Juliet; and Ron Travis, R-Dayton, offered their support to the speaker.

House Majority Leader William Lamberth, R-Portland, reminded members of the caucus that "the sky is not falling."

Lamberth added, "This is one of those type things that we just thoughtfully proceed together in whatever direction we need to."

During the phone call, Casada outlined his immediate plans, which he said included issuing a formal public apology later Wednesday for his involvement in the text messages. The speaker also said he would look at potential changes in the workplace harassment policy to help prevent drug use and sexual misconduct.

He also asked the House Ethics Committee to review how he handled the termination of Cothren.

Finally, Casada said he had sent a request to the Davidson County District Attorney's office and the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation to expedite its probe into a separate email matter involving his former chief of staff and an activist.

The phone call with Republicans came after Democrats and an increasing number of Republicans have called for Casada to resign.

Rep. Rick Tillis, R-Lewisburg, said he wanted Casada to step down from his post. The Republican Majority Whip said he hadn't received any phone call or communication with the Speaker of the House since news broke. He also called Casada's claim of "overwhelming support" a falsehood.

Rep. Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, is also calling for Casada's resignation.

This is a developing story.

Repoter Emily West contributed to this report.

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