Update: Cade Cothren announced his resignation Monday night, following the publication of this story; Speaker Glen Casada on May 21 announced that he would also resign "in coming weeks."

Editor's note: This story contains sexually explicit language.

House Speaker Glen Casada’s top aide has a history of sending sexually explicit text messages and making inappropriate advances toward former interns, lobbyists and campaign staffers, according to documents obtained by the USA TODAY Network - Tennessee.

Copies of text messages sent from a cellphone number associated with Cade Cothren, 32, show Casada was included on some of the staff member’s derogatory comments toward women.

The texts also show Casada, R-Franklin, participated in some of the sexually charged messages objectifying women.

Cothren’s explicit text messages include:

soliciting oral sex and naked photos from an intern;

suggesting he would make sexual advances toward another intern;

seeking sex with a lobbyist;

referring to another woman as a “cunt”; and

calling Metro police officers who gave him parking tickets “rent a cop cocksuckers.”

The text messages range from early 2014 to fall 2016 when Cothren served as House Republicans’ press secretary.

In an interview Monday, Cothren admitted that he had sent “derogatory” texts to women in the past, but declined to elaborate on those messages or his behavior toward women.

Cothren in January became Casada’s chief of staff, earning $199,800.

“I’m just not the same guy that I was several years back,” Cothren said. “I was young and dumb and immature. There’s no excuse for it at all, and I’m not trying to make excuses, but I can tell you that I have changed since then.”

Casada summarized his involvement in some of the sexually charged text messages — a conversation not involving the interns — as a comment on “a relationship between two consenting adults.”

Revelations about Cothren’s inappropriate sexual advances and text messages come after Casada’s chief of staff admitted to using cocaine in the legislature’s office building. Cothren is also facing scrutiny over racist text messages.

News of Cothren and Casada’s sexually explicit remarks comes at a time of renewed scrutiny of the legislature’s sexual harassment policy.

Casada: 'I need to reevaluate some things'

In recent days, Casada repeatedly has vouched for Cothren, including Monday.

"While I’m not proud of who I was in the past, I am proud that, with God’s grace and a strong support system, I’ve been able to achieve so much in the years since," Cothren said.

Casada said, "Who am I to hold that against someone when they've turned their life around? ... It's a very simple story of a young man going off and making some bad life decisions, but recognizing those bad life decisions."

In a statement released the same day, Casada said he believed Cothren had proved himself to be a changed man.

“I choose to believe that we all deserve a shot at redemption,” Casada said. “I gave Mr. Cothren this chance to prove himself, and that’s exactly what he’s done.”

Last week, Casada similarly expressed support for Cothren, who he said had worked for him for 10 years.

“I stand by my chief of staff on his character because I know his character,” the speaker said.

In an interview with the USA TODAY Network - Tennessee, concerning the allegations involving Cothren and interns, Casada said late Monday afternoon he needed "to reevaluate some things.”

Casada, Cothren participated in sexually explicit text messages

According to copies of text messages obtained by the USA TODAY Network - Tennessee, Casada, who was married at the time, participated in Cothren’s sexually charged comments toward women.

In July 2016, Cothren shared a photo of an upside down woman standing next to a pole. He shared the picture with Casada, who said, “What about some pole dancing!!!”

Cothren referred to the woman as “wife material” before Casada asked, “Can I just touch????”

Cothren replied, “Lol maybe just once.”

In August 2016, Cothren texted Casada about a sexual encounter he had with a woman.

“Just so y’all know, I did f—k (woman) in the bathroom at party fowl,” he said, referring to the Party Fowl restaurant. “Will send pictures later.”

Casada responded: “Only gone for 60 seconds,” adding, “R u a minute man???;)”

Cothren said, “Yes, I take after you. Like father like son.”

Casada replied, “Lolol! If I’m happy, then all is good!!!!!”

In May 2016, Casada was sent another text message from Cothren but did not offer a response.

The text from Cothren said, “I have many miles and many girls to go before I sleep.”

In a separate 2016 exchange with another person, Casada said, referring to Cothren, "Those girls aren't safe!!! Shepard? He's the wolf!!!"

Cothren made sexual advances toward interns

In the text messages Cothren made sexual advances to a legislative intern and a campaign intern for Casada, who was not included in the conversation.

In texts sent during April 2015, Cothren solicited oral sex on one occasion and nude photos another time from an intern. He also asked her whether she was wearing underwear and attempted to pivot the topic of a conversation to orgasms.

In a text conversation in February 2014, Cothren discussed another intern’s attractive appearance.

“I’m gonna keep hitting on her just to see what happens,” Cothren wrote, noting that the intern was already in a relationship. “Before long, I’ll be THAT guy.”

On Monday, Casada said if he knew Cothren was sending sexually explicit text messages to interns he would have fired him.

“He would have been let go,” Casada said. “If I had known that he was interacting with interns in that manner, I probably would have sent him to rehabilitation.”

Cothren then made sexual advances toward a female lobbyist in a series of texts in 2016 about how he would like to sleep with older women.

He asked the woman whether she enjoyed having sex in the mornings, saying he would change his sleep schedule to accommodate her preference.

In another series of texts with the woman, Cothren mocked her marital status while he and a friend encouraged her to meet with them.

When the lobbyist replied that her husband would also like to come out with the group, Cothren replied “orgy.”

The lobbyist on another day indicated that Cothren had a reputation for frequently talking with women, writing that Cothren was “#textingalltheladiesatLP,” a reference to Legislative Plaza, the legislature’s office building at the time.

The legislature’s sexual harassment policy requires anyone with knowledge of any form of discrimination or harassment to immediately contact the House and Senate speaker or any staff directors, such as the director of legislative administration.

The text messages and derogatory remarks by Casada and Cothren may make victims of sexual harassment reticent to move forward with a complaint.

A spokeswoman for Gov. Bill Lee on Monday said Lee would not be commenting on the matter. When asked why, press secretary Laine Arnold said the governor's office reserves the right to decide when to comment.

Lt. Gov. Randy McNally's office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The latest revelations come after Casada elevated Rep. David Byrd to serve as an education committee chairman. Byrd faces allegations dating from the 1980s that he sexually assaulted three now adult-aged women when he was their high school basketball coach.

Byrd is one of four Tennessee lawmakers in as many years to face allegations of sexual misconduct.

Casada notably supported expelled former Rep. Jeremy Durham amid allegations of sexual harassment against multiple women working in the legislature. Casada long stood by Durham, despite an attorney general’s probe that found he had engaged in inappropriate sexual contact with at least 22 women. It wasn’t until Durham faced an investigation over campaign finance issues that Casada turned on his colleague.

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Reach Joel Ebert at jebert@tennessean.com or 615-772-1681 and on Twitter @joelebert29. Reach Natalie Allison at nallison@tennessean.com. Follow her on Twitter at @natalie_allison.