Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder has been indicted on state charges related to a bribery and money laundering scandal, in addition to his ongoing federal racketeering conviction. The new charges concern conduct after his arrest in July 2020 and his failure to report debts and gifts as required by the Joint Legislative Ethics Commission. Householder faces a maximum of three to eight years on each of the 10 state charges, with a permanent disqualification from holding public office if convicted of theft in office.
The state charges are part of a broader scandal involving former FirstEnergy executives who allegedly funneled $60 million to pass a bailout for two nuclear plants owned by the utility. Former CEO Chuck Jones, Vice President Michael Dowling, and top utility regulator Samuel Randazzo have also been indicted in connection with the scheme. Despite these allegations, the bailout law, House Bill 6, remains in effect, costing ratepayers nearly $250 million to support aging coal plants, one of which is located in Indiana.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost highlighted Householder’s prior role as speaker and the potential for him to seek re-election if his federal conviction is overturned. Householder is set to be arraigned on the new charges in April, while the scandal continues to unfold with additional indictments and investigations into corruption within Ohio’s utility industry.
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