Former Ohio House Speaker Larry Householder was sentenced on Thursday to 20 years in prison. (Albert Cesare, Cincinnati Enquirer via AP)
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In closing arguments at trial in March, Larry Householder’s attorney called the racketeering case against his client “a nothing-burger.”
The former Ohio House speaker believed in House Bill 6 – the FirstEnergy nuclear bailout – on its own merits, the lawyer said. That predated the creation of Generation Now, the nonprofit used to accept bribes from FirstEnergy.
Jurors didn’t buy the argument. A jury found Householder guilty of racketeering alongside FirstEnergy Solutions lobbyist Matt Borges, a former chairman of the Ohio Republican Party.
On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Timothy Black called the former speaker a “bully with a lust for power.” He said Householder of all people would know how much $1.3 billion could do for Ohio’s citizens.
“How many peoples’ lives could have been improved?” Black said. “And you handed it over to a bunch of suits with private jets.”
Then Black sentenced Householder to the maximum 20 years.
Reporter Adam Ferrise was in the courtroom when Householder, who offered no apology in his statement, was taken into custody. Federal marshals slapped handcuffs on his wrists and led him from the courtroom.
Borges is set to be sentenced today.
-- Laura
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