Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder (R), who led a corruption scheme last year, is facing new charges after being indicted.
A county grand jury has indicted the householder, charging them with 10 new felony counts.
The new counts encompass a range of allegations, including ethics violations, misuse of campaign funds, and theft in office. These charges carry the potential consequence of disqualifying him from holding public office in Ohio.
Ohio Attorney General Dave Yost made a strong statement in regards to the case against Mr. Householder. Yost expressed his intention to hold Householder accountable for his actions under state law. Furthermore, Yost emphasized that a conviction would have significant consequences, potentially resulting in a permanent ban from public service in Ohio. Yost firmly believes that state crimes carry state penalties and that a successful prosecution would prevent any future political comebacks from Householder, who is often referred to as the “Comeback Kid.”
The 64-year-old Householder is currently facing multiple charges, including theft in office, telecommunications fraud, aggravated theft, tampering with records, and money laundering.
Steven Bradley, the lawyer representing Householder, has not had the opportunity to communicate with his client at this time. However, he intends to do so in the near future in order to determine the most appropriate course of action. This information was reported by The Associated Press.
In June, Householder received a 20-year prison sentence for orchestrating a $61 million corruption scheme. During that time, FirstEnergy, a utility company based in Akron, attempted to push for legislation that would benefit their interests. This included a $1.3 billion taxpayer-funded bailout for two nuclear plants in Ohio.
Householder has had the privilege of serving as Speaker for two distinct terms.
