Ohio s public corruption case involving $61 million in bribes in exchange for a $1.3 billion bailout is the biggest open investigation in any Statehouse in America surpassing a similar scandal in Illinois and two closed-out cases in New York. Historically, I haven t seen anything like it, said FBI Supervisory Special Agent Matthew DeBlauw, who leads the public corruption squad in Columbus. This case is in a league of its own.
So far, five Ohioans have been charged in U.S. District Court with racketeering. Akron-based FirstEnergy Corp. fired its chief executive and other top managers and lobbyists, disclosed it paid $4.3 million to someone who became an Ohio utility regulator, and is in early talks with federal prosecutors to avoid prosecution. And FBI agents searched the home of then Public Utilities Commission of Ohio chairman Sam Randazzo, who then resigned.
FBI Special Agent in Charge Chris Hoffman and Supervisory Special Agent Matthew DeBlauw oversee the biggest public corruption case in the the country right now and the largest in Ohio history.
In July 2020, federal investigators detailed how Akron-based FirstEnergy, its subsidiaries and other energy companies gave nearly $61 million to help elect Rep. Larry Householder, pass House Bill 6 containing $1.3 billion to subsidize two nuclear plants and defend the law against the ballot effort to block it.
Householder, R-Glenford, and four others were indicted. Householder and former Ohio Republican Party chairman Matt Borges have pleaded not guilty. Lobbyist Juan Cespedes and political strategist Jeff Longstreth pleaded guilty in October. Lobbyist Neil Clark died by suicide in March.
Honoring our Greatest Generation
Most of us were not even born yet.
It was 75 years ago. The nightmare that was World War II was coming to an end.
On May 8, 1945, our Allied Forces celebrated Victory in Europe Day.
Four months later, on September 2, aboard the battleship USS Missouri, Japanese officials formally surrendered. We celebrated VJ Day – Victory over Japan Day. The world was no longer at war.
Sadly, the scars of our involvement in that war, from 1941 to 1945, will remain alive in our hearts, minds, and souls forever. Our WWII veterans are now in their 90s or 100s.
Over 16.5 million men and women served in our armed forces during that war. Sadly, almost 300,000 died in battle. More than 113,000 died from other causes, and 670,846 were wounded.
On Thursday, FBI spokesman Todd Lindgren confirmed that the case is still open.
As speaker, Rosenberger held enormous political power and lived a public life that included an active social media profile, press conferences, a national network of political connections and extensive travel.
Rosenberger resigned April 10, 2018. FBI agents searched his property May 23, 2018. And the Ohio House provided subpoenaed documents to the FBI and media on Aug. 27, 2018.
Federal investigators have been looking at Rosenberger s relationship with GOP mega donor Ginni Ragan, his trips with lobbyists, and a lack of action on a payday lending reform bill, which became law after he stepped down.