bribery

Feds seize records from Ohio utility tied to bailout, corruption scandal

BY: - June 10, 2021

An Ohio utility announced Tuesday it’s cooperating with a federal subpoena seeking records related to a massive bailout to coal and nuclear plants that’s now at the center of a public corruption prosecution. American Electric Power — the largest shareholder in a cooperative that owns two coal-fired plants that will receive an estimated $700 million […]

House reps try to force out indicted Republican; most of GOP stays silent

BY: - May 27, 2021

The quest to expel a Republican lawmaker who was criminally accused in what’s described as the largest public corruption scandal in state history gained new life Wednesday as lawmakers launched bipartisan efforts aimed at his ouster. Two House Democrats — Jeff Crossman, of Parma, and Michele Lepore-Hagan, of Youngstown — triggered the action Tuesday after […]

House leader ducks questions about indicted Republican keeping seat

BY: - May 21, 2021

Five men were charged. Four cases remain open. Three plea deals have been signed. Two alleged conspirators might cooperate with federal prosecutors. But only one man, Rep. Larry Householder, R-Glenford, continues to shape state law and draw a taxpayer funded salary of roughly $62,000, even under shadow of a racketeering indictment described by prosecutors as […]

Consumer advocate again demanding independent probe of FirstEnergy

BY: - September 23, 2020

Ohio's official consumer advocate is again asking that regulators mount an independent investigation into whether a Northern Ohio utility improperly used ratepayer funds to fuel what federal prosecutors called the biggest bribery scandal in state history.

Unidentified Ohio House rep gave FBI texts, testimony against Speaker in bribery case

BY: - July 22, 2020

The state representative wanted to explain his opposition to bailing out two failing nuclear power plants owned by FirstEnergy Solutions. A high-powered lobbyist, who federal prosecutors allege was involved in a $61 million racketeering scheme operated by the Speaker of the House and others in his “enterprise” to pass the bailout, wasn’t having it. “No […]