Former Ohio utility regulator facing bribery charges dies by suicide
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — Former Public Utilities Commission of Ohio chair, Sam Randazzo, died by suicide while awaiting trial on charges related to a corruption scandal. Randazzo was accused of accepting a $4.3 million bribe from FirstEnergy Corp. in exchange for regulatory favors. His death comes as a blow to ongoing federal and state investigations into the largest corruption scandal in Ohio’s history.
The corruption scheme involved dark money groups funding a $60 million bribery plot to help former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder win the speakership and pass a $1 billion nuclear bailout bill. Householder and lobbyist Matt Borges were convicted on federal racketeering charges, with Householder receiving a 20-year prison sentence.
Randazzo resigned in 2020 after FBI agents searched his home and FirstEnergy disclosed the alleged bribery payments. He is the second person involved in the investigation to die by suicide, following lobbyist Neil Clark’s death in 2021. Two others have pleaded guilty and are cooperating with authorities.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office, Ohio Attorney General’s Office, and Governor Mike DeWine’s office have not commented on Randazzo’s death. His passing marks a tragic turn in the ongoing investigation and raises questions about the extent of corruption within Ohio’s utility regulation system. The scandal has left a dark cloud over the state’s political landscape, with repercussions likely to be felt for years to come.
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