Attorney for Householder cross-examines an FBI agent
Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder’s attorney questioned how secure of a hold Akron-based Firstenergy had on the Republican lawmaker and the candidates he backed.
On Friday, Householder’s attorney Rob Glickman pointed to Firstenergy communication from the fall of 2018 and spring of 2019 that emphasized the importance of securing the votes of Householder and his allies. One whip count listed Householder as a “1-2” on a one-to-five scale of how much candidates supported nuclear subsidies that preceded House Bill 6.
These communications came nearly two years after Householder is accused of hatching a pay-to-play scheme with Firstenergy executives over Washington D.C. steakhouse dinners during former President Donald Trump’s inauguration in 2017. So why wasn’t Householder a solid one? Glickman asked.
Glickman also questioned the FBI’S list of Team Householder candidates, pointing out that Rep. Tom Brinkman voted for Republican Rep. Ryan Smith for House Speaker and GOP Rep. Jena Powell voted against House Bill 6.
FBI Special Agent Blane Wetzel said that membership in Team Householder was “very fluid.” He did not interview lawmakers on the list about whether they supported Householder but rather relied on documents and Householder strategist Jeff Longstreth.
Many of the actions Householder took were politics as usual, Glickman said. They include:
● Creating a subcommittee to review energy generation, which was reasonable given Firstenergy Solutions’ bankruptcy and financial woes.
● Hiring Pat Tully to House GOP staff, which was reasonable given his resume and experience in the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. Agent Wetzel previously testified that Tully’s resume was passed along by Firstenergy executives.
● Allowing lobbyists for Firstenergy to craft draft legislation for House Bill 6, which included the $1.3 billion subsidy for the two nuclear plants.
And Householder had other reasons to support House Bill 6, such as saving jobs and helping Ohioans, his attorneys have argued. Glickman had Wetzel read Householder’s news release from the day the referendum effort failed, detailing the benefits of House Bill 6.
“I’m almost sorry I helped FES,” Firstenergy CEO Chuck Jones texted Householder in January 2020. “They’ve turned into real (expletive) on the final separation from us. We helped them get $1B and it’s like we’re now the enemy,” said Jones, adding that it was still what was best for average Ohioans.
Glickman also pointed out that Longstreth, not Householder, held the checkbook for the dark money group at the center of the scandal: Generation Now. Wetzel testified that Householder was in control of the group even if he didn’t write the checks − and nearly all of Generation Now’s money came from Firstenergy and its subsidiaries.
Federal prosecutors said Householder benefited from the scheme to the tune of nearly $514,000, including repairs for Householder’s Florida home after a hurricane. Householder’s attorneys say the repairs were a loan from Longstreth.
Borges wasn’t ‘on the farm’
Former Ohio Republican Party Chairman Matt Borges’ attorney Karl Schneider argued that his client wasn’t on Householder’s team and didn’t bribe GOP operative Tyler Fehrman with a $15,000 check.
Borges did not appear on lists of Householder’s supporters, sometimes called “on the farm.” In 2018, Borges supported Republican candidate Stu Harris’ House bid. Harris was sometimes listed as a Team Householder candidate but “folks were unsure where he was,” Wetzel testified.
Schneider also questioned Wetzel about Fehrman’s work with the FBI to secretly record conversations with Borges. In some instances, Fehrman would ask if Borges needed any information, and Borges would decline to seek intel about the ballot initiative to block House Bill 6.
In other instances, Wetzel testified Monday, Borges would seek details about how many signatures had been collected statewide, saying intel would make him a hero.
Schneider also focused on Fehrman’s contract with Advanced Micro Targeting, a firm working to collect signatures to block House Bill 6. That contract included nondisclosure and noncompete clauses – something that Borges asked Fehrman about. The FBI did not acquire a physical copy of that contract until July 2020, after Borges and others were arrested.
What is the alleged conspiracy?
Householder and Borges are accused of participating in an illegal pay-to-play scheme to help Householder win control of the Ohio House of Representatives, pass a $1.3 billion bailout benefiting Firstenergy Solutions’ two nuclear plants and defend that law against a ballot initiative to block it.
Householder and Borges are charged with racketeering conspiracy, punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Both have pleaded not guilty.
Three others were charged in the same corruption case. Former Firstenergy Solutions lobbyist Juan Cespedes and Longstreth pleaded guilty. Lobbyist Neil Clark, who acted as Householder’s “proxy,” died by suicide in March 2021.
In July 2021, Firstenergy agreed to pay a $230 million fine and admit it bribed Householder and former Public Utilities Commission of Ohio Chairman Sam Randazzo, who was appointed by Gov. Mike Dewine. Randazzo has not been charged with any time.
USA TODAY Network Ohio bureau reporters Jessie Balmert and Laura Bischoff have been following the House Bill 6 scandal since the story broke. They will continue to follow developments and the trial. Follow them on Twitter at @lbischoff and @jbalmert for updates.
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