COLUMBUS - More details are coming out about the meeting Ohio House Republicans had Tuesday night at the Vern Riffe Center for Government and the Arts.

One House Republican, who spoke to us on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak publicly about the meeting, said the federal case against former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder, R-Glenford, and his co-defendants was laid out Tuesday for the entire caucus by representatives from the Ohio Attorney General's office. Attorney General Dave Yost was not there. 

"They explained, for instance, who entered guilty pleas, what the plea actually was, what the charge was," says the representative. This person added, "We weren't even allowed to ask questions. They just told us the facts of the case and they left," the representative said.​

Following the presentation, the representative said only caucus members were allowed in to ensure the lawmakers could speak freely.

"Usually caucus has majority staff, policy advisors and the Sergeant at Arms is there. The Sergeant at Arms, even in this situation, was outside the door. I mean, it literally was members​ only," the representative said.

According to multiple House Republicans, that is when the discussion around expulsion started. 

"Anyone who wanted to speak had a free floor to say, 'I'm for expulsion. I'm against expulsion,' and anything in between. A lot of different people said a lot of different things," the representative said.​

Only certain members chose to voice their opinions. Householder himself attended the meeting and listened to what members had to say about him and the case, according to several House Republicans.

"He didn't speak. He didn't address everyone. He had sidebars. He talked to people. I don't know what he talked about, but he didn't address the caucus. It wasn't like he walked in and sat down, oddly got up and walked out or anything," the representative said.

Several lawmakers said it was a cordial atmosphere and there were not any arguments among members. 

"There wasn't even any interaction between members. It was one member speaks and everyone listens," the representative said. "It was like a revolving open mic. That's the best way to describe it."

The representative said the views that were expressed are the same that have been shared publicly. Some of the members have been on record saying they are in favor of expelling Householder. Others have said the legal process should play itself out and Householder should be presumed innocent until proven guilty. Another camp said he was duly elected by his constituents, even though he was under investigation and the only candidate on the ballot and the House should not mess with the will of the people.

"It wasn't awkward to me because that's the kind of person that I am," said the representative. "If anything, it helped me clear the air so people knew where I stood."

Householder is accused of being the ring leader in a $61 million bribery scheme to pass and defend House Bill 6 and get himself elected speaker. FBI agents arrested Householder in July. A week and a half later, Householder was removed as speaker.

The representative said no one went to bat for saving Householder, "In the sense of, 'Oh this is Larry. We gotta support him.' I only heard people express, 'What is the line in the sand here? Is it going to be if you're specifically indicted? Is it going to be if you're under investigation? What is this standard going to be? Because something, like disorderly conduct is obviously very vague.'"

House Republicans have said no vote was taken during the three-hour-long meeting and they are not sure if House Speaker Robert Cupp, R-Lima, will call for future caucus meetings surrounding Householder's future, or if Cupp will bring a resolution to the House floor.

"The transportation budget is pressing. It has a date (that it is due) and then, we have a two-week spring break. I think it's hard to do a lot next week, but, I think, that spring break certainly gives people plenty of time to talk to their district and their colleagues (about an expulsion vote)," the representative said.

It would take two-thirds, or 66 votes of the entire Ohio House of Representatives, to expel Householder from office.

When Cupp was first elected speaker last summer, he said his leadership would be different than Householder's because he will be "doing things with a high degree of transparency."​ The representative said, knowing the charges Householder faces, transparency in the caucus' thinking is key.

"I'm always for more transparency and more accountability in government. I think that we should ask all 99 members to (go on the record about how they would vote)," said the representative.

In a statement, House Minority Leader Emilia Sykes, D-Akron, said, “We’ve heard rumors (of a vote on expulsion), but, at this point, I’ll believe it when I see it. I’ve reached out to the majority caucus and do not have a confirmation either way. The members of the House are already on record regarding the expulsion due to the motion offered by Rep. (Jeffrey) Crossman last year, which was defeated by a party-line vote. The members of our caucus will vote as they deem appropriate, but as I said before, I’ll believe it when I see it.”

Cupp has repeated many times, "The honorable thing for Mr. Householder to do would be to resign." However, Householder has said he has no plans to do that.

On Wednesday, members of the press asked Cupp about what direction House Republicans are leaning in terms of a potential expulsion vote for Householder. 

“I have no news to report, no update. And I, of course, have a longstanding policy of not talking about internal caucus communications,” said Cupp.

Former U.S. Attorney Dave DeVillers said Tuesday more indictments in the federal racketeering case could be coming. 

Cupp was asked his thoughts on DeVillers' comments and he replied, "I have no reason to believe that any other House members are involved in this."​​