COLUMBUS, Ohio — “Would you consider this a bail out?” That was the question I asked Larry Householder last summer, after the passage of the controversial energy bill at the heart of the FBI investigation. His response —“It’s a bailout for rate payers.”
These days, Householder is dealing with a different type of bailout — his own.
“What is likely the largest bribery, money laundering scheme ever perpetrated against the people, the state of Ohio,” said U.S. District Attorney Dave DeVillers.
District attorney Dave DeVillers has been quietly gathering culpatory evidence on Larry Householder for the past year — through recorded conversations, surveillance, and informants.
When Householder boldly told me HB6 was a bailout for tax payers last year, little did he know the FBI was watching.
“It was a very covert investigation. I am not going to get into the means of our investigation, but it was critical that we, the U.S. Attorneys Office and this FBI, kept this a secret investigation.” DeVillers said.
While the case has been building for a year, the alleged conspiracy has been in motion much longer.
According to the federal affidavit, “Company A” or FirstEnergy, realized their ship was sinking back in 2016.
“Consistent with this forecast, ‘Company A’ sought a “legislative solution” for its two affiliated nuclear power plants in Ohio,” reads the affidavit.
That January, Householder boarded FirstEnergy’s private jet.
According to the FBI, after that flight, Householder began receiving quarterly payments of $250,000 from "Company A."
From there, the money kept flowing, eventually leaving the Ohio legislature awash with FirstEnergy money.
While it isn't unusual for large corporations to shell out millions in campaign contributions, the fact that the majority of the lawmakers received money is of note.
According to campaign finance data, some of the top recipients include Bill Seitz (R-Cincinnati), whose campaign fund has raked in a collective $55,000 from the company.
Anthony DeVitis (R-Green) got $53,000 for his campaign.
And it’s not just the Republicans, either.
Senator Sandra Williams (D-Cleveland) spoke out against the bill, saying it took Ohio backwards, but then ended up voting for it. Her campaign received $31,000 from FirstEnergy.
Rep. David Leland (D-Columbus). a fierce opponent of the bill who voted against it, got $3,000. At the time, when speaking against HB6, he said, “We're the first ones to understand it and we're the last generation that can do anything to stop it.”
This goes to show that not all of FirstEnergy’s contributions got the company what it wanted.
It took a year-long investigation and a very public downfall, but now, Leland is getting his wish.
A growing chorus from the Statehouse is now calling for the repeal of House Bill 6.
That same chorus is calling for the resignation of Householder —who still has every intention of holding the House.