Federal officers arrested Ohio state House Speaker Larry Householder and four others Tuesday over their alleged connection with a $60 million bribery case.
The arrest was confirmed by a source involved in the investigation, the Cincinnati Enquirer reported. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Southern District of Ohio announced the federal racketeering case Tuesday in a press release.
The others arrested included an advisor to Householder and three political consultants. Matthew Borges, one of the consultants, is a former chair of the Ohio Republican Party, USA Today reported.
A spokesman for U.S. Attorney David DeVillers described the case as a “public corruption racketeering conspiracy involving $60 million.”
Multiple sources confirm to Dispatch: Larry Householder, Matt Borges, Neil Clark, Juan Cespedes, Jeff Longstreth arrested. All have apparent ties to House Bill 6/FirstEnergy Solutions nuke plant bailout.https://t.co/s8JJmBstC2
— Randy Ludlow (@RandyLudlow) July 21, 2020
The office did not immediately respond to the Daily Caller News Foundation’s request for comment. A news conference has been scheduled for 2:30 p.m., according to the release.
Householder is key figure in the Ohio Republican Party, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. He was the speaker of state house from 2001 to 2004 and has faced legal investigations before.
The FBI launched an investigation in 2004 over allegations that he and some of his aides were engaged in a quid pro quo with Ohio vendors, supporting specific legislation in exchange for campaign contributions. The investigation ended in 2006 with no charges, according to the Cincinnati Enquirer. (RELATED: Ohio GOP Senator Faces Backlash After Questioning Hygiene Of ‘Colored Population’)
Householder staged a successful political comeback in 2017, and re-ascended to the speakership in 2019.
“When everyone else is in disarray is usually when I’m at my best,” he told the Ohio outlet in 2019.
As speaker, he oversaw two Ohio nuclear power plants receiving a $1 billion bailout, and led House Republicans in supporting the state’s heartbeat bill, which Gov. Mike DeWine signed into law last year.
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