COLUMBUS, Ohio — Larry Householder, the former Speaker of the Ohio House of Representatives, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for his involvement in a massive bribery scheme. Householder’s conviction stems from accepting $60 million in bribes from energy company FirstEnergy in exchange for passing a $1.3 billion bailout for two nuclear power plants owned by the company.
The maximum sentence under federal law was imposed on Householder by the presiding judge, who highlighted the significant damage caused by his actions to the democratic institution in Ohio, referring to his leadership of a criminal enterprise.
The Householder scandal has been recognized as one of the most substantial cases of public corruption in Ohio’s history, prompting demands for reforms to the state’s political campaign finance laws.
Below are additional key details concerning the scandal:
- Householder and his associates employed a dark money group called Generation Now to channel the bribes received from FirstEnergy.
- Generation Now extensively spent millions of dollars on advertisements and other political activities to support Householder and other candidates perceived as aligning with FirstEnergy’s interests.
- The bailout for the nuclear power plants secured approval from the Ohio House of Representatives in 2019 but was later repealed through a referendum by voters.
- Householder’s arrest occurred in 2020, with charges filed against him for racketeering and bribery. In 2021, he was found guilty on both counts.
- The scandal implicated several other individuals, including former Ohio lawmakers and lobbyists.
The Householder scandal has left a profound impact on Ohio’s political landscape, leading to widespread calls for comprehensive reforms to the state’s political campaign finance laws. Furthermore, it has eroded public trust in the Ohio state government, highlighting the need for transparency and accountability in the realm of politics.
