Imprisoned former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, a Republican, entered a not guilty plea on Friday to 10 additional felony counts brought against him by the state related to a massive corruption scandal.
Householder, 64, appeared remotely from the Elkton Federal Correctional Institution for the arraignment hearing in Cuyahoga County, where he is currently serving a 20-year sentence. Wearing a prison uniform, Householder did not speak during the proceedings.
The once powerful Republican politician was convicted in March 2023 for orchestrating a $60 million bribery scheme funded by FirstEnergy Corp. to help elect legislative allies and secure a $1 billion bailout for the utility’s nuclear plants.
Householder is appealing that racketeering conviction, arguing prosecutors overreached and that the money was raised legally through a 501(c)(4) “dark money” nonprofit group called Generation Now.
The new state charges brought by Republican Attorney General Dave Yost include one count of theft in office, two counts of aggravated theft, telecommunications fraud, money laundering, and five counts of tampering with records.
According to the indictment, Householder allegedly misused campaign funds for his federal criminal defense and failed to properly disclose financial relationships and gifts related to the nuclear bailout legislation known as House Bill 6.
Two former FirstEnergy executives – ex-CEO Chuck Jones and Senior VP Michael Dowling – face a combined 22 felony counts in the state’s case, to which they have pleaded not guilty.
Another defendant, former Ohio utility regulator Sam Randazzo, had pleaded not guilty before dying by suicide earlier this month.
Both FirstEnergy and Generation Now have admitted guilt in the federal corruption probe dubbed the largest bribery scheme in Ohio history. But Householder continues fighting the charges on multiple fronts.
As the state’s prosecution moves forward, the proceedings ensure the House Bill 6 scandal’s fallout remains ongoing for Householder despite his lengthy prison sentence.