(RepublicanView.org) – An Ohio state lawmaker, who was jailed last year for corruption, faces new charges following a ten-count indictment by a county grand jury. The new charges include misuse of campaign funds, theft, and ethics violations. Republican Larry Householder furthermore faces the prospect of a ban from holding elected public office in the future.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost issued a statement saying, “State crimes have state penalties, and a conviction will ensure that there will be no more comebacks.”
Householder was sentenced to 20 years in prison last June following a conviction for accepting a bribe from utility company FirstEnergy in exchange for passing legislation that included a taxpayer-funded bailout for its nuclear plants in Ohio. Prosecutors requested the maximum sentence for Householder, who had held the post of Speaker in the state House, saying he acted as the “quintessential mob boss.”
FirstEnergy was fined $230 million for its part, and former Ohio GOP Chairman Matt Borges was convicted on racketeering charges. He received a five-year sentence.
The new indictment alleges that Householder used campaign funds to pay for his legal defense and did not disclose fiduciary relationships, creditors, and gifts on ethics filings.
Chuck Jones, the ex-CEO of FirstEnergy, was indicted last month, along with Senior Vice President Michael Dowling and utility regulator Sam Randazzo. They face 27 separate counts brought by the Ohio Organized Crime Investigations Commission. All have pleaded not guilty.
The $60 million bribe was used to help Householder allies gain seats in the State House and elevate him to the role of Speaker.
The Department of Justice says it is determined to root out political corruption and warns that penalties are severe. Fighting corruption is overseen by the Public Integrity Section (PIN), which investigates and prosecutes crimes involving bribery of public officials, election crimes, and related offenses.
PIN also advises prosecutors on handling such cases and develops Department policy in partnership with the US Attorney’s Office.
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