CINCINNATI, Ohio — Federal prosecutors charged Ohio House of Representatives Speaker Larry Householder with conspiracy to commit racketeering on Tuesday in connection to a nuclear bailout bill Householder shepherded through the state legislature last year shortly after he ascended to his leadership position.
Householder faces up to 20 years in prison and a maximum $250,000 fine, court officials said Tuesday. Also facing identical charges are former Ohio Republican Party Chair-turned-lobbyist Matt Borges, prominent lobbyist Neil Clark, FirstEnergy Solutions lobbyist Juan Cespedes, and Householder aide Jeff Longstreth.
Criminal complaints against the defendents were unsealed on Tuesday, but they were redacted, indicating likely that prosecutors are hoping to protect witnesses or other sensitive information.
The quintet made their initial appearance via video Tuesday in front of U.S. Magistrate Judge Stephanie Bowman in Cincinnati. Householder and Longstreth were represented by David Thomas, an attorney who has performed work for Householder in the past, including in a 2018 case in Perry County.
The hearing, which a reporter observed through a telephone conference, is ongoing.
Householder is one of Ohio’s most powerful politicians, and the investigation against him, news of which broke Tuesday morning, sent shockwaves through Ohio political circles.
A preliminary hearing, at which more details of the case likely will be discussed, was set for Aug. 6. The defendents didn’t speak in court other than to answer the magistrate’s procedural questions.
Prosecutors did not seek a monetary bond, although as a condition of their release, Bowman ordered them to surrender their firearms, to remain in the Southern District of Ohio, and to not have contact with other defendants or potential witnesses. This would mean Householder, one of the state’s most powerful politicians, could not travel the entire state or have contact with lobbyists or conceivably even other state lawmakers.
The U.S. Attorney’s Office in Columbus is set to hold a news conference at 2:30 to discuss the case. It has described the case as a “public corruption racketeering conspiracy involving $60 million.”
This story will be updated.
Cleveland.com and The Plain Dealer reporter Eric Heisig contributed to this report.
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Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder faces racketeering charge along with aide, lobbyists over nuclear bailout - cleveland.com
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