Husted still not commenting; DeWine now says Randazzo’s connections to FirstEnergy well known

April 18, 2024

While Lt. Governor Jon Husted refuses to comment on the $1 million dark money contribution made to a group who supported him for governor, now Governor Mike DeWine admits that Sam Randazzo’s connections to FirstEnergy were well known around Capitol Square.  There are multiple ties between DeWine’s administration – especially his Chief of Staff whom Randazzo advised that he had received $4.3 million from FirstEnergy, which he claimed was final payment of a ‘consulting agreement.’ DeWine’s former Chief of Staff and current trusted counselor to DeWine, Laurel Dawson, is cooperating with the state prosecution.

In a previously unreported $1 million dark money contribution to support the campaign of Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine has been linked to Lt. Gov. Jon Husted’s 2017 primary bid. Husted pushed for DeWine to appoint Sam Randazzo — a 74-year-old energy consultant turned regulator — as PUCO Chair. Randazzo is the second person charged both in state and federal courts over roles in a massive utility scandal that broke in July 2020, along with other alleged misdeeds, who has died by suicide. In the bribery scandal, Akron-based FirstEnergy paid more than $60 million in bribes between 2017 and 2020 in exchange for a $1.3 billion ratepayer bailout – including $4.3 million to Randazzo as he secretly skimmed millions from settlements FirstEnergy paid the big users to get them to go along with rate hikes for everybody else.

A Cuyahoga County grand jury indicted Ohio Republican ex-House Speaker Larry Householder on ten new charges stemming from theft in office to lying on state ethics reports and misusing $750,000.00 campaign funds for his criminal defense, according to a news release from the Ohio Attorney General’s Office. Despite Householder is currently serving 20 years in a federal prison for bribery and racketeering, he could still hold public office once released.  If he’s convicted of theft in office, he would be disqualified from holding public office again in Ohio.

Nearly four years after FirstEnergy admitted to bribing top Ohio Republican officials, Ohio law enforcement authorities filed numerous felony charges against two former First Energy executives and a former top utility regulator in what has been called the biggest bribery, racketeering and money-laundering scandal in Ohio history. All three men pleaded not guilty to the charges, were released from Summit County Jail after each posted 10% of $100,000 bond and are required to wear ankle monitors. Details include how the entire scandal reached Governor Mike DeWine (R) and Lt. Governor Jon Husted (R) universe. Ohio Democrats has tried to repeal HB6 and to have safeguards to prevent future corruption. GOP supermajority continues to block all efforts.

Charged were Sam Randazzo, former chairman of the Public Utilities Commission, who is already facing felony charges in federal court, the state indictment charges him with 27 more, including grand theft, bribery, and money laundering. The indictment accuses him of taking bribes from FirstEnergy from 2010 until just before he was appointed by Governor Mike DeWine to became chairman of the PUCO commission in 2019. Also charged were former FirstEnergy CEO Chuck Jones and Vice President Michael Dowling as they face 27 felony charges similar to those faced by Randazzo. Evidence presented shows intent to keep DeWine in the dark.

Former Ohio Speaker Larry Householder and Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges have appealed their convictions to racketeering and fraud, Ohio’s largest bribery scandal. Both are currently serving 20 years and 5 years respectively in federal prisons. Borges’ attorney Dennis Belli argued that federal prosecutors didn’t prove their case and that U.S. District Court Judge Timothy Black abused his discretion by allowing certain evidence while blocking other testimony. Householder’s attorneys filed a 105-page document – along with 207 pages of appendix with exhibits – alleging the bribe he accepted wasn’t a bribe, but was within his First Amendment rights. Read the entire article at the bottom of page.

After months of seemingly no action, the federal investigation continues around the $61 million FirstEnergy-HB6-Householder-Borges corruption case. Ohio’s former top PUCO utility regulator, Sam Randazzo, pleaded not guilty to an 11-count indictment on bribery, fraud and embezzlement charges in U.S. District Court. FirstEnergy Corp. admitted that it bribed Randazzo by paying him $4.3 million shortly before Governor Mike DeWine picked him as PUCO chairman in 2019. Randazzo, 74 years of age, is facing up to 20 years in federal prison if found guilty. Governor DeWine was warned twice to reconsider appointing Randazzo. In addition, the Ohio Supreme Court unanimously ruled that assets owned by Randazzo can be frozen in connection with his federal public corruption case. Randazzo’s bank accounts and brokerage accounts can now be frozen, according to a ruling that reversed an appeals court decision. This keeps Randazzo from moving money out of his accounts as the state’s civil action continues to recover proceeds from an alleged bribe given by FirstEnergy Corporation.

Former Republican Ohio House speaker Larry Householder was sentenced to 20 years in federal prison and former Ohio Republican Party chairman Matt Borges was sentenced to 5 years in prison in the racketeering conspiracy case tied to House Bill 6 and FirstEnergy. Both Householder and Borges were found guilty on racketeering charges for their involvement in a $60 million racketeering conspiracy to pass the controversial nuclear bailout bill (HB6) in Ohio. This verdict is a successful example of holding public officials accountable and achieving justice for all Ohioans who are still paying for the scandal-ridden HB6 bailout. All elected officials should take heed: Justice will be served.

Best quote regarding the full repeal of HB6 that is costing Ohioans $533,589 per day for the bailout of two coal power plants – one located in Ohio and one located in Indiana:
                                     “That’s not going anywhere because it’s stupid.” ~~Ohio House Majority Floor Leader Bill Seitz, a Cincinnati Republican, when asked by The Plain Dealer/cleveland.com on Friday why a bipartisan House bill to fully repeal the scandal-tainted House Bill 6 energy law hasn’t moved so far this session.

Federal prosecutors have said the $61 million corruption case against former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder and former Ohio Republican Party Chair Matt Borges is likely to be the biggest bribery and money laundering scandal in Ohio history. During the trial, actions by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, Ohio Governor DeWine, Ohio Lt. Governor Husted, Ohio Secretary of State LaRose and Ohio Attorney General Yost have come up.

Despite FirstEnergy paying a $230 million fine as part of a deferred prosecution agreement in which it admitted it was involved in allegations of a racketeering conspiracy related to Ohio House Bill 6. Despite being in bankruptcy, FirstEnergy Solutions spent a large amount on TV ads and mailers targeting lawmakers to try to get them to vote against the bailout bill. Despite Generation Now, the tax-exempt, non-profit corporation pleading guilty to laundering FirstEnergy money. Despite Juan Cespedes, a former lobbyist who helped FirstEnergy pass the House Bill 6 nuclear bailout law, and Jeff Longstreth, who functioned as Householder’s political strategist and general fixer, pleading guilty and expected to testify for the government. Despite Neil Clark, a longtime lobbyist and served as budget director for the Ohio Republican Caucus, indicted, but committed suicide. Householder and Borges contend they are innocent of all bribery and corruption charges.

Best quote from trial regarding the citizens referendum on HB6:
                                    “If it makes the ballot, we are dead.” ~~Matt Borges, former Ohio Republican Party Chair said.

Ohioans continue to foot the bill of not just former Speaker of the Ohio House Larry Householder’s public corruption trial, but also the bill that landed him in federal court. The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio on Thursday agreed to a measure that could increase fixed monthly charges to 1.4 million Ohio natural gas customers by more than 50% over the next five years.

After two and a half years when the FBI arrested one of Ohio’s most powerful politicians, former Republican Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder is finally facing trial. Federal prosecutors allege that Householder traded legislation – House Bill 6 – into a pay-to-play scandal, used the money to help those who said they would vote for HB6 get elected to the House and for personal use. It has become apparent that FirstEnergy and former Speaker Larry Householder needed each other as Householder sarcastically called the $60M investment “a bargain” and his attorney has called this case “a nothing burger.”

According to the FBI, Householder worked out deals with candidates and other legislators to vote for a $1 billion bailout for two nuclear plants – one located in Ohio and one located in Indiana owned by Akron-based utility First Energy – that Ohioans’ have been charged for on our electric bills for nearly $61 million in campaign cash that he spread around to other GOP House representatives and used for personal use. Then-U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of Ohio David DeVillers told reporters this was “likely the largest bribery, money laundering scheme ever perpetrated against the people of the state of Ohio.” Articles will be posted as the case moves forward.

COMMON CAUSE OHIO TEAM has set up a site specifically for the Householder Enterprise Racketeering Trial. On the site, you will find links to a timeline of Householder Enterprise/House Bill 6 scandal, a list of key figures, FAQs, additional resources, a petition and a history of corruption scandals in Ohio: Visit here. Sign up for updates from the Householder/Borges trial here. With the guilty verdict of Householder and Borges, this is the perfect time to invite you to a webinar Common Cause Ohio is hosting for Sunshine week. Please join us for Shine a Light on the Statehouse: What Can We Learn from the Householder/Borges Trial?, a virtual event on Wed., March 15 at 6:00 pm. Details and registration at this link.

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