FirstEnergy bailout
More signs that criminal investigation into Ohio utility bailout continues
Five have been charged and four have been convicted in a massive bribery and money-laundering scandal, but there were more signs this week that the federal criminal investigation is continuing. In court documents filed in a separate case on Monday, a special master said that a major player in the conspiracy — Akron-based FirstEnergy — […]
Big investors continue to accuse FirstEnergy of hiding behind its lawyers
After years of hearings, depositions and court filings, some of the biggest investors in Akron-based FirstEnergy are still accusing the company of stonewalling their demands for information related to a massive bribery scandal that’s already sent two to federal prison. For its part, FirstEnergy says the plaintiffs in the suit either don’t understand or are […]
Attorneys dig up thousands of new documents in case against FirstEnergy
Lawyers for pension and investment funds suing Akron-based FirstEnergy report that as they press the company for documents relating to alleged bribery, the company is finding thousands more. Meanwhile, the U.S. Justice Department isn’t commenting on rumors that further charges might be filed next month in the biggest bribery and money-laundering scandal in Ohio history. […]
Ohio senators introduce bills to prevent another bribery scandal from happening
To prevent an even bigger and more embarrassing bribery scandal from taking place, Ohio lawmakers introduced two bills to stop public corruption. When a consumer pays their utility bill — it’s not just for their lights. Part of what they pay for is for utility companies’ political endeavors. Ohio learned the hard way that this […]
Ohio utilities’ efficiency programs among the worst in wake of corrupt utility law, report says
Ohio-based AEP responded last week to questions for this story, which incorrectly said it didn’t. It’s been updated. House Bill 6 wasn’t only a bad law because it involved $61 million in bribes in exchange for a $1.3 billion utility bailout. Most of the bailout payments have been repealed, but somehow the law — the […]
Money paid, favors done. Messages detail relationship between Ohio regulator and energy executives
In early 2019, news of financial ties between Akron-based FirstEnergy and the man incoming-Gov. Mike DeWine had named to lead the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio began to spread. And as it did, FirstEnergy’s top executives feared they wouldn’t have a regulator they could control, according to documents filed in federal court late last week. […]
Battle over how Ohio regulator spent $4.3 million utility “bribe” continues
Attorneys are continuing to battle over documents regarding how Ohio’s former top utility regulator spent and spoke about $4.3 million he received in 2019. The company paying it later said the money was a bribe made in exchange for official action. Attorneys for the plaintiffs in a class-action suit against Akron-based FirstEnergy want to know […]
LaRose said Issue 1 would help prevent corruption. But it could make it even worse
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose has claimed that a proposal to make it much harder to pass citizen-initiated amendments to the Ohio Constitution would have prevented an aspect of the biggest bribery scandal in state history. But LaRose, who announced his candidacy for U.S. Senate on Monday, has refused to discuss his own role […]
Fired First Energy executives team up with others suing to get FE report on Ohio scandal
The long list of pension and investment funds suing Akron-based FirstEnergy are making common cause with two fired executives who were ousted in the wake of a scheme in which the company paid out more than $60 million in exchange for a billion-dollar nuclear bailout. They’re demanding the report from an internal investigation FirstEnergy conducted […]
Federal judge blasts disgraced Ohio House speaker as a “bully,” sends him straight to jail
CINCINNATI — Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder spent possibly his last moments as a free man around 2:30 p.m. Thursday and they couldn’t have been pleasant. U.S. District Judge Timothy Black gave the Glenford Republican the maximum possible sentence of 20 years and then ordered blue-shirted U.S. Marshals to immediately take him into custody. […]
Court battle over Randazzo docs gets nasty
Sam Randazzo, the former chairman of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, isn’t even a defendant in a massive class-action lawsuit against Akron-based FirstEnergy. But a battle is growing bitter over documents regarding $4.3 million FirstEnergy paid a group controlled by Randazzo just as Gov. Mike DeWine nominated him in 2019. The dispute arises from […]
Ohio SOS gives yet another reason to make it a lot harder for voters to amend Constitution
Ohio Secretary of State Frank LaRose on Wednesday offered another rationale for making it much more difficult for voters to amend the Ohio Constitution. Now he’s saying it’s needed to fight a possible power grab like one that grew out of a massive bribery and money-laundering scandal. But LaRose didn’t mention in his op-ed that […]