COLUMBUS, Ohio — On Monday morning, Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost dropped a legal bombshell, announcing the indictment of two former FirstEnergy executives and the former chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. The charges stem from the ongoing investigation into House Bill 6 (HB6), a contentious energy bill that stirred controversy upon its passage in 2019.
The indicted individuals include Charles “Chuck” Jones, the former CEO of FirstEnergy; Michael Dowling, the former Senior Vice President of External Affairs at FirstEnergy; and Samuel “Sam” Randazzo, the former Chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.
Allegations against the trio are grave, with prosecutors leveling 27 felony violations including bribery, engaging in corrupt activity, and other charges linked to HB6. The indictment alleges a concerted effort by the individuals to sway the passage of HB6 through illicit payments and actions, tarnishing the integrity of the legislative process.
“This indictment is about more than one piece of legislation,” Yost said. “It is about the hostile capture of a significant portion of Ohio’s state government by deception, betrayal and dishonesty. Shout it from the public square to the boardroom, from Wall Street to Broad and High: Those who perversely seek to turn the government to their own private ends will face the destruction of everything they worked for.”
House Bill 6, etched into law in 2019, sparked heated debates as it provided financial lifelines to two aging coal plants owned by FirstEnergy, situated in Ohio and Indiana. Additionally, the bill instituted measures impacting renewable energy standards and the operation of nuclear power plants, further igniting controversy.
“Jones and Dowling actively worked to spend FirstEnergy money to improperly influence Randazzo to exercise the authority of PUCO chairman to advance FirstEnergy’s regulatory and policy agendas,” the indictment says.
“These individuals used First Energy to break the law and betray the public’s trust,” Prosecutor Walsh said. “This indictment is another step toward bringing justice for the residents of Summit County and Ohio.”
This recent indictment adds to the legal fallout from the HB6 saga. Last year, former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder faced federal racketeering charges for his involvement in the bill’s passage. Householder was ultimately convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison after accepting bribes from FirstEnergy to bolster support for HB6.
