Dewine to give tainted campaign cash to charity

Gov. Mike Dewine has resolved to give to charity the campaign contributions he received from those facing federal racketeering charges in the House Bill 6 nuclear-plant bailout scandal.

The amount he will be giving away from the campaign stash of Dewine/husted for Ohio — he suggested it would go to food banks — apparently totals $35,092 if it includes donations to his inaugural fund.

However, the Republican stopped short of saying he would convert donations from Firstenergy, the Akron utility accused of channeling $60 million to a secretive nonprofit to pass and defend House Bill 6, to charitable causes.

Firstenergy’s largely employeefunded political action committee gave $25,202 to the 2018 Dewine campaign and $10,000 to his inaugural committee. Its CEO, Chuck Jones, also provided $12,700 in food and beverages for a Dewine fundraiser. The total: $47,902.

"Anybody who gave us money who has been charged, we are going to donate that money to charity," Dewine said Wednesday. But, he noted, neither Firstenergy nor any of its executives have been charged.

Dewine, who supported and signed House Bill 6, reported a $1.8 million balance in his campaign account at the end of last year.

But, among those facing charges in U.S. District Court in what is described as the largest-ever public corruption case in Ohio:

• Former Ohio Republican Party chairman turned lobbyist Matt Borges contributed $13,250 to Dewine-husted in 2018 and kicked in $2,500 to the inaugural fund.

• Juan Cespedes, a lobbyist charged in the racketeering scheme centered on House Speaker Larry Householder, RGlenford, donated $15,292 to Dewine’s campaign and $2,500 to his inaugural committee.

• Jeff Longstreth, a long-time Householder

confidante and adviser, gave $600 to Dewine’s inaugural fund and $500 to his 2018 campaign, according to campaign finance records.

• Householder was stingy with Dewine, giving only $400 in personal funds to the inaugural bash.

• Lobbyist Neil Clark, a central figure in working with Householder in the alleged conspiracy, gave nothing.

Dewine continued to call Wednesday for Householder, a frequent critic and opponent, to resign, or for the House to vote to expel him.

“It is a disgusting story ... the story as laid out by the U.S. attorney is just a sickening story,” Dewine said. “I don’t think there is anyway the Speaker can continue to function.”

Firstenergy gave $1 million to legislators, other officeholders, candidates and political parties prior to winning passage of the bill granting Firstenergy Solutions, now Energy Harbor, around $1 billion over seven years to underwrite the pair of Lake Erie nuclear power plants it threatened to close.

The office of U.S. Rep. Troy Balderson, R-zanesville, announced Thursday he immediately sent $10,000 representing Firstenergy campaign contributions to charities across the 12th District’s seven counties.

Dewine and other candidates scrambled in 2018 to donate to charity the contributions they received from interests related to the scandal-wracked Electronic Classroom of Tomorrow and its principals.

Lt. Gov. Jon Husted, however, declined to give up $36,000 in ECOT money included among the $4.6 million he brought to the Dewine campaign after folding his gubernatorial campaign and running for the No. 2 spot.

Including $4 million in still-outstanding personal loans, Dewine spent a record $35.6 million in 2018 election cycle to become governor. Defeated Democrat Richard Corday spent about $19.5 million. rludlow@dispatch.com @Randyludlow