CINCINNATI, Ohio — Day two of the trial of former Ohio House Speaker was filled with more testimony from the government’s witnesses. Jurors heard from a former vice president of FirstEnergy, an IRS agent and a special FBI agent.

What You Need To Know

  • Testimony continued on Tuesday for the Larry Householder Trial

  • An IRS agent and FirstEnergy VP both took the stand for testimony

  • The day ended with testimony from special FBI agent Blane Wetzel

  • Wetzel shared details about email exchanges, phone calls, etc

The day ended with FBI special agent Blane Wetzel detailing the investigation. Wetzel told jurors he was assigned to the Larry Householder and Matt Borges case after he received a complaint from a concerned individual. 

He testified his team collected a number of search warrants, subpoenas, phone records, and emails. Exhibits used during testimony showed multiple email exchanges between Householder and Former FirstEnergy Senior Vice President of External Affairs, Mike Dowling. In one email in Aug. 2016, they discussed getting together for a meeting. 

Prosecutors also showed jurors an email regarding a dinner reservation for Householder and several guests at a high-end steakhouse in Washington D.C. for Jan. 18, 2017, which they say was attended by FirstEnergy employees. There were several other reservations at the same restaurant over the following days. 

Prosecutors presented a March 2017 email from Jeff Longstreth — Householder’s former aide who pleaded guilty to racketeering conspiracy charges - to Mike Dowling, regarding wiring instructions for Generation Now, a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization that is believed to have been a cover to get millions of dollars in bribes to Householder. 

Wetzel will remain on the stand on Wednesday. He will be the only witness. Judge Timothy Black told the court the trial would begin later on Wednesday, at 10:45 a.m., because of expected inclement weather.